X/@VaticanNews; Instagram/@franciscus
Brilio.net - Pope Francis has just made an apostolic visit to Indonesia since Tuesday, September 3, 2024. His arrival in Indonesia immediately caught the public's attention because he showed a humble and simple attitude.
Pope Francis landed at Soekarno-Hatta Airport and headed straight to the Vatican Embassy in Central Jakarta. There, the Pope greeted orphans, the sick, and refugees who greeted him with joy.
In addition to being friendly, Pope Francis' simplicity is also seen in other behaviors while in Indonesia. Starting from choosing transportation to where to stay, all reflect his humble personality.
Here are five stories of Pope Francis' simplicity that were admired during his visit to Indonesia, compiled by brilio.net from various sources on Wednesday (4/9).
1. Choose to fly commercially.
photo: X/@VaticanNews
Pope Francis decided to board an ITA Airways commercial flight to Indonesia. The Italian national airline took the Pope from Rome to Soekarno-Hatta Airport on September 2, 2024.
The move has come under scrutiny, given that most world leaders usually use private or state planes. However, Pope Francis prefers the simple way of using commercial flights.
2. Refuse to be picked up by a luxury car, choose Innova.
photo: X/@patricia_olivia
Upon arrival in Indonesia, Pope Francis chose to use a Toyota Kijang Innova Zenix passenger car. This car is very commonly used by Indonesian people, unlike the habits of other heads of state who often choose luxury or bulletproof vehicles.
This decision further emphasizes Pope Francis' modest attitude, although security remains tight by TNI-Polri officers. A total of 4,000 joint personnel were deployed to ensure security during his visit.
3. Appear wearing a watch worth Rp. 1 million.
photo: X/@VaticanNews
During his visit, Pope Francis was also seen wearing a Swatch Twice Again watch, which is priced at around Rp 1 million. This watch has a simple and functional design, in accordance with his understated personality.
His appearance with the watch shows that Pope Francis is not fixated on luxury, even in terms of the accessories he wears. His attitude has amazed and inspired many people.
4. Choose to stay at the Vatican Embassy.
photo: Instagram/@franciscus
Instead of staying at a five-star hotel, Pope Francis chose to rest at the Vatican Embassy during his stay in Jakarta. His decision was based on his desire to remain in a simple and familiar environment.
The Vatican Embassy Guesthouse located in the Medan Merdeka Timur area is where Pope Francis spent his night during this apostolic visit. This choice further shows how much he values simplicity in his daily life.
5. Greet Indonesian people in a friendly manner.
photo: X/@VaticanNews
On the way from the airport to the Vatican Embassy, Pope Francis did not just sit in the car. He asked the driver to pull over so he could get closer to the people waiting along the road.
Pope Francis greeted and waved to residents who greeted him enthusiastically. Not only that, he also gave rosaries as souvenirs to the children present, showing his warmth as a spiritual leader.
(brl/lut)
