Embracing Peace: Pope Francis’ Message from Indonesia
In a recent interview with Vatican News in Jakarta, Maria Paz Jurado, the Director of Scholas Occurrentes’ International Projects, shared the heartfelt sentiment of their community as they eagerly anticipated Pope Francis’ visit to their Indonesian home. She expressed their desire for the Pope to share a message of peace with the world from the heart of Indonesia.
By Linda Bordoni – Jakarta
As Pope Francis embarks on his Apostolic Journey to Asia and Oceania, Maria Paz Jurado emphasized the significance of his visit to Indonesia. The Holy Father’s itinerary included meetings with authorities, clergy, and Jesuit colleagues, culminating in a special encounter with the Vatican Foundation – Scholas.
Scholas Occurrentes, a global educational initiative founded by the Pope, focuses on engaging youth through education, art, and sports. During the Pope’s visit, around 200 young people from Scholas’ Indonesian branch, representing diverse backgrounds and beliefs, welcomed him at Jakarta’s “Grha Pemuda” Youth House. The gathering emphasized themes of diversity and unity, symbolized by a sculptural polyhedron in the room where they met.
The Impact of Pope Francis
Maria Paz Jurado highlighted Indonesia’s embodiment of Pope Francis’ message of “Unity in Diversity,” citing the country’s motto “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika.” She underscored the importance of the Pope’s presence in the world’s largest Muslim democracy as a powerful message of peace and encounter for all nations.
Reflecting on the Pope’s engagement with young members of Scholas Occurrentes during the visit, she expressed excitement about the opportunity for them to share their thoughts, concerns, and dreams with His Holiness, both for Indonesia and the global community.
Globalization and Unity
Referencing Pope Francis’ vision of globalization as a polyhedron that encompasses diverse identities, Maria Paz Jurado noted the symbolic heart-shaped polyhedron created by Scholas to represent Indonesia’s embrace of diversity. Through artistic expression, they aim to convey a message of peace to the world, and they appeal to Pope Francis to amplify this message from the heart of Indonesia.
As the country buzzes with enthusiasm over Pope Francis’ visit, Maria Paz Jurado highlighted the collaborative efforts of over 2500 individuals, including young people and those in prison, to prepare for the papal encounter. The shared artistic installation, the polyhedron, symbolizes the unity in diversity that Pope Francis advocates for.
Deborah Castellano Lubov contributed to this article
Appeal for Peace
Through their art and message, the Scholas community in Indonesia calls for a message of peace to be shared with the world from the heart of their nation. As they strive to embody unity in diversity, they look to Pope Francis to amplify their plea for peace and understanding across the globe.
Pope Francis encounters Scholas in Jakarta, Indonesia.
