Indonesian Catholics Grieve Over the Death of Pope Francis

April 22, 2025 | 08:10 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Catholics worldwide feel deep sorrow over the passing of Pope Francis on Monday, April 21, 2025. The sadness also envelops the Catholics in the homeland, including Magdalena Bui, who attended a mass with the Holy Father at Gelora Bung Karno stadium on September 5, 2024, during Pope Francis' apostolic journey to Indonesia.

"We feel deep sorrow. Because we just met him a few months ago," said Magdalena to Tempo on Monday, April 21, 2025.

Magdalena said she did not expect the Pope's departure to happen so quickly since his visit to Indonesia. At that time, she saw the Pope in good health.

Since February, Pope Francis' health had declined and he was hospitalized for 38 days due to double pneumonia. Magdalena admitted to continuing to monitor the Pope's health. "Yesterday I saw in the media, it was said that he had recovered. Earlier, I saw the news again that he had passed away, it's like being shocked, it really hits the heart," she said.

Magdalena considers the sudden passing of the Pope, which coincided one day after Easter, affirms that the Pope is the chosen one. "His death coincides with the death of Jesus who died and rose again. So, he also dies and will rise again, which includes a saintly person," she said.

The same grief is also felt by Parulina Resubun. The 39-year-old woman traveled from Merauke, Papua, to meet the Pope in Jakarta. In a Tempo report dated September 8, 2024, she recounted her opportunity to hold the Pope's hand due to her hard work.

The sudden departure of the Pope shocked her. "I am very sad and have lost Papa Holy Pope, we Catholics see the Pope as an envoy of God in the world," said Paulina.

Paulina said she never missed information about the Pope's health developments. She watched through social media managed by the Vatican. "We at home in the family prayed specifically for the late His Excellency the Pope after hearing this sad news," she said.

Jakarta Archbishop Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo also expressed deep condolences over the death of the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, at the age of 88. Cardinal Suharyo called the Pope's death a sad loss.

"Certainly, all of us, not only Catholics, but our entire nation truly feel the loss with the passing of Pope Francis," said Suharyo at the Jakarta Cathedral on Monday.

Cardinal Suharyo also remembered Pope Francis as a very simple and exemplary figure. "His simplicity is evident in his life choices," said Suharyo, adding that Pope Francis did not live in the Papal Palace but in a simple apartment in the Vatican, as quoted from Antara.

At 09:45 local time on Monday, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the passing of Pope Francis at the age of 88 from Casa Santa Marta. "Dear brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the passing of our Holy Father, Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the Father's house. His entire life was devoted to serving God and His Church," said Cardinal Farrell as quoted from the Vatican's website on Monday, April 21, 2025.

The man with the birth name Jose Mario Bergoglio passed away after returning from the hospital. He was treated at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on Friday, February 14, 2025, after suffering from bronchitis for several days. Pope Francis' clinical situation gradually worsened. Doctors diagnosed Pope Francis with bilateral pneumonia on Tuesday, February 18, 2025. After 38 days in the hospital, the late Pope returned to his residence at the Vatican in Casa Santa Marta for recovery.

Dewi Rina Cahyani contributed to the writing of this article.

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