In His Light, We Gathered: A Requiem for Papa Francesco

TheIndonesia.co - The requiem mass for the beloved late Pope Francis in the capital of the Republic of Indonesia was held on Thursday, April 24th, 2025, at Jakarta Cathedral, formally known as the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption. It was a ceremony of grace—serene, humble, and profoundly beautiful. Just as he lived, the Mass reflected the late Pontiff’s enduring spirit: simple, sincere, and deeply human.

As Father Albertus Hani Rudi Hartoko, S.J., the Cathedral’s Head Pastor, shared prior to the Mass, "We honour Pope Francis in the very way he served us—humbly, with his feet on the ground and his heart in God’s hands."

The altar bore no grandeur, no extravagance—only elegant white moon orchids, softened by delicate sugar cane orchids, placed below a framed photograph of the Holy Father. Flanking the tabernacle, two portraits from his historic 2024 Papal Visit to Indonesia hung reverently—printed on fabric, suspended like blessings in motion.

Pilgrims were handed a simple yet touching paper fan as a keepsake—on one side, Pope Francis’ photograph; on the other, his comforting words alongside a tribute: "In loving memory, Pope Francis (1936–2025): Faith, Fraternity, Compassion."

These words, his very motto during his September visit, stirred tears among us, as if time had folded in upon itself. It felt like just yesterday that Papa Francesco—as we lovingly call him—walked among us, smiling, blessing, and embracing the people of Indonesia with his gentle warmth.

But he was more than a spiritual leader or head of state. He was our father. Our grandfather. As Ignatius Cardinal Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo, Archbishop of Jakarta, expressed before the Papal Visit in 2024, "As children long for their father, so we longed for Pope Francis to come to us."

And come, he did—holding the hands of the poor, blessing children and babies (even those still in their mothers’ wombs), embracing those with disabilities, and praying beside our Muslim neighbours at Istiqlal Mosque, across from the Cathedral. His presence united, healed, and reminded us of our shared humanity.

In the days after his passing, mourners continued to gather, queuing patiently outside the Apostolic Nunciature in Jakarta to leave flowers, prayers, and messages.

Monsignor Piero Pioppo, Ambassador of the Holy See to Indonesia, who led the requiem Mass, humbly addressed the pilgrims, “I thank each of you who came to honour Pope Francis. His spirit continues in your presence, in your faith, in your love.”

The Jakarta Cathedral welcomed over 2,500 pilgrims, filling every pew and corner with quiet reverence. I sat between Lia and Valentina, strangers until that moment, yet bound like sisters in shared sorrow and remembrance. Just as Papa Francesco often reminded us in his sermons, “We are all brothers and sisters. Fratelli tutti.”

Our conversation moved from grief to gratitude—about his legacy, his age (88, a symbol of eternity), and how even the church’s Easter decorations whispered of renewal and everlasting life. We recalled his tireless plea for peace, his voice for the voiceless, his call to care for the earth and one another.

The service closed with messages from Mgr Piero Pioppo and Mgr Antonius Subianto Bunjamin, O.S.C., Chairman of the Indonesian Bishops' Conference, followed by the ethereal hymn Regina Caeli and a hauntingly beautiful rendition of I Vow to Thee, My Country.

As the choir faded, the pilgrims moved closer to the altar—offering silent farewells, capturing his image one last time, their eyes moist with reverence, hearts quietly whispering goodbye.

One message remains with me still, a parting gift from Papa Francesco himself:

“Remember this: Always forgive.
Forgiveness bears fruits inside us of welcoming, of embracing.
Because forgiveness has this grace.
Always forgive.
Be merciful, please.”

And so, we walked out into the evening light, each of us carrying his memory in our hearts, forever lit by his love, guided by his mercy. Adieu, Papa Francesco. Requiescant In Pace.