Modeling How to Live from 10,000 Miles Away

TIO Public Square

Modeling How to Live from 10,000 Miles Away

by Robert P. Sellers

Pope Francis has just completed the longest trip of his 11-year papacy, visiting Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore. The Pope began his journey with four days in the Southeast Asian country so beloved to me and my family – Indonesia, our home for 25 years. We deeply value the cultural and religious diversity of that tropical island nation and appreciate our friendships with so many of its gracious people. Our home in Jakarta was 10,092 miles away from where we live now in Texas, but the life lessons Pope Francis has modeled there are as current as today and as local as next door.

Tangerang — Photo: Wikimedia

On Tuesday, September 3rd, Pope Francis was helped off the plane in his wheelchair at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, on the edge of the massive capital city of 11.3 million – a familiar place into and out of which we have flown many times. There he was greeted by a cheering crowd, a military band and an honor guard, as well as officially welcomed by the Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs, Yaqut Cholil Quomas. To express the nation’s gratitude for the Pope’s visit in the simplest terms, two beautiful young children dressed in traditional clothing presented him with a bouquet of vegetables, fruits, spices and flowers.

Later, rested from the tiring overnight flight from Rome, the 87-year-old Pontiff used his afternoon to attend to some “business” that is one of the clearest markers of his personal character: meeting to encourage and bless a group of refugees, migrants and the sick at the Vatican guesthouse where he was staying. This emotionally draining effort, despite his jet lag, was exactly the sort of joyous opportunity for engagement with the marginalized that Francis has made a valuable aspect of his pontificate.

On Wednesday, Pope Francis joined Indonesia’s political leaders at Merdeka Palace, the president’s official residence. President Joko Widodo welcomed the Pope, declaring in a national broadcast that “Indonesia and the Vatican have the same commitment to fostering peace and brotherhood, as well as ensuring the welfare of humanity.”

Photo: Wikipedia

In his remarks at the Palace, the Pope praised how this moderate, secular Muslim nation continues to affirm the differences represented by its over 300 ethnic tribal groups with their almost 800 spoken languages. He stressed that “war is a defeat for all humanity,” and expressed his hope that the nation would be committed to implementing the principle of “social justice.” This ideal is a part of the preamble of the 1945 Constitution which reformulates President Sukarno’s Pancasila [‘Five Principles’], the bases for Indonesia’s state philosophy – “the belief in one God, just and civilized humanity, Indonesian unity, democracy under the wise guidance of representative consultations, and social justice for all.”

In this first speech in the world’s most populous Muslim country, the Pope “condemned religious extremism, saying it distorted religion by using deception and violence.” “There are times when faith can be manipulated to foment divisions and increase hatred,” Francis said, as he encouraged the Indonesian leaders to oppose religious intolerance through dialogue and cooperation.

After his visit to Merdeka Palace, the Pontiff visited Jakarta Cathedral, where he met with Indonesian Catholics, including bishops, priests, religious brothers and sisters, seminarians and catechists – some 1,200 people who excitedly celebrated an opportunity they never imagined, to be in the presence of their spiritual Father. He also visited with Catholic teenagers at the Cathedral’s historic Graha Pemuda [‘Youth House’], in order to listen to and honor the aspirations of Indonesian young people as they live in their thriving pluralistic society.

Istiqlal Mosque — Photo: Wikipedia

On Thursday, in a visit to Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque, Francis joined representatives from the six official religions recognized by Indonesia – Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Catholicism and Protestantism. At this largest mosque in Southeast Asia, the Pope was welcomed by a percussion band, after which he and Nasaruddin Umar, the Grand Imam, listened to verses from both the Qur’an and Bible, read from Braille by a young blind girl.

Beginning his speech at the mosque, Francis stated that “by looking deeply…we discover that we are all brothers, all pilgrims, all on our way to God, beyond what differentiates us.” Expressing their respect for one another, the Pontiff and Imam embraced – the Imam kissing the forehead of the seated Pope and Francis kissing the extended right hand of Nasaruddin. This exchange of appreciation and affection became a symbol of interreligious friendship to the local millions whom these two men represent: Catholics, who comprise 3% of Indonesia, or about eight million, and Muslims, some 87% of the country’s population, or 242 million.

The two men concluded their time together by signing a joint declaration encouraging “religious harmony for the sake of humanity” and then by going together into a famous passageway that leads under the wide boulevard to connect the mosque with the cathedral. This “tunnel of friendship” is but another symbol of interreligious fraternity and a potent reminder of religious freedom enshrined in Pancasila.

On that final evening in Jakarta, Pope Francis held an event in Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium. “Usually only rock stars and presidents can fill Indonesia’s national stadium,” according to a video report. “But Pope Francis drew more than 80,000 fans to a Catholic Mass at the venue.” There were thousands more outside the arena, unable to enter because of the crowd. To the quiet and attentive audience, the Pope began his mass with these encouraging words: “I would like to say to you, to this nation, to this wonderful and varied archipelago, do not grow weary of setting sail and casting your nets. Do not grow weary of dreaming and building again a civilization of peace! Always dare to dream of fraternity. That is a true treasure among you.”

 Lessons for America

Here in America, especially during these weeks of political turmoil, we can learn much from the words and actions of Pope Francis.

Following the example of the 87-year-old Francis, no doubt exhausted from his long journey from Vatican City to Jakarta, we must take time to express solidarity for the marginalized, even when we are tired or there are more “important” people to visit. It is significant that the Pontiff, even before meeting with the President of the nation or the Grand Imam of 242 million Indonesian Muslims, set aside time to meet with refugees, migrants and the sick.

When so many Americans seem to feel entitled and have become brazen in their hateful comments about immigrants, racial minorities, the handicapped and those suffering from mental decline, we should be challenged by the actions of this world figure. Whether we are Catholic or not, Christian or not, or even religious to any degree or not, the example of this humble servant of the people should stir us to be more inclusive and shame us if we have been guilty of ignoring or denigrating people unlike ourselves.

When the Pope appeared at Merdeka Palace, he came face to face with the most powerful political leaders in the 4th largest country in the world. He was not intimidated, but was willing to speak truth to power. He decried war and declared that it brought defeat to all humanity – to the victors as well as the vanquished.

He praised social justice and challenged the politicians to honor their nation’s Constitution and Indonesia’s state philosophy that enshrines justice for everyone. Although almost all the leaders to whom he spoke were most certainly not Catholic Christians, but likely Muslims, as a member of the minority he still condemned extremism and noted that religion can be coopted and used to promote division and hatred among the people.

We Americans – both left, right and center politically – can learn from this courageous example of the Pontiff. We must speak the truth to those in power. We should expect our elected officials to be persons with peaceful impulses, and tell them so. We need to confront and chastise them when they are manipulating the truth and using religion to their own advantage. We have to demand that they remember our own Constitution and protect and uphold its most noble teachings. Moreover, we must vote for leaders who do not stir up our people and create division and hatred.

Pope Francis did not ignore his own spiritual brothers and sisters. Spending time at the Jakarta Cathedral, he sought to encourage the many Catholic clerics and religious who were gathered there. With the wisdom that comes from advanced age, he intentionally moved into a space with Catholic teenagers, desiring to inspire them to chase their dreams faithfully. We, too, regardless of our religious or philosophical tradition, should spend time learning from and giving to those who walk the same path as we. Especially, if we are seniors, we should cross the boundaries of age and culture to connect with the young, whom we must inspire to let “the better angels of their nature” guide their steps into the future.

Like both Francis and Nasaruddin, who each embraced the Religious Other, pledged their continued cooperation and walked together in a pathway of friendship, it is essential for us to recognize that any hope we have for national and global peace will require we learn to accept those who are different from ourselves. We live in perhaps the most religiously pluralistic society in the world. America is not a “Christian nation,” but rather – like Indonesia – strives to be a country where everyone can make a home.

Our national motto, E Puribus Unum [‘Out of many, one’], is not unlike Indonesia’s national motto, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika [‘Unity in Diversity’]. Both maxims are powerful reminders that our national strength derives from the beautiful variety of our citizenry. Also, let us not be influenced by our relative power or numerical dominance compared to our neighbors of other religions. Nasaruddin, the Grand Imam of 242 million Indonesian Muslims, could have felt proud and dominant, compared to Francis, whose Catholic followers in Indonesia only number 8 million. But he did not express any arrogance or display a need to control.

In fact, it was he who humbled himself first, by kissing the Pope’s forehead, which stirred the Pontiff to kiss Nasaruddin’s hand in response. Let us, then, take the first step in humbling ourselves as we reach out in friendship and respect to persons who are radically different.

When we live in the way that Pope Francis has modeled – with compassion, courage, humility, respect, integrity – maybe others will see who we really are and want to follow our example. We will likely never draw crowds of 80,000 just to catch a glimpse of us and listen to us talk, but that kind of fame is not the reward we should be seeking. Instead, when we truly live in harmony with others, and especially in religious harmony with those around us who do not pray or worship just as we do, we will find that goodness and character bring their own reward.