Day Two in Indonesia: “A dream for a more fraternal world”

By Linda Bordoni – Jakarta

Pope Francis’ dream of a more fraternal world was at the heart of his message to Indonesia – and the world – on Wednesday, his first full day in Indonesia.

That’s the message he inscribed inside the installation – a polyhedral sculpture made of many recyclable materials, colours and fabrics – made by the young people of Jakarta’s Schola Occurentes. Then he listened to some of their stories, telling them that it’s okay to disagree with your friends and discuss, but never to wage war. “War is always defeat,” he said, relentlessly reiterating his call for brotherhood in a broken world.

Earlier, during his meeting in the city’s cathedral with bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons, seminarians and catechists, he asked them to continue to open their hearts to all, including the majority of Indonesians who are not Christians, and to work hard for faith and harmony.

Those he thanked most for their work and mission in this diverse nation were the catechists. They are the ones, he said, who move the Church forward, they are the bridges between the very different peoples of Indonesia: “First the catechists, then the sisters, then the priests and the bishops.” The catechists, he repeated, “are the true strength of the Church!”

And early in the day, during the official welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace, Pope Francis defended Indonesia’s national motto, “United in Diversity,” and expressed his appreciation for the nation’s multifaceted reality, that of diverse peoples firmly united in one nation. But he warned that “harmony in diversity requires that everyone adopt a spirit of fraternity in seeking the good of all,” and that means finding and maintaining a balance “between the multiplicity of cultures and different ideological visions,” that means nurturing love!