Shortly after an interreligious meeting in Jakarta on September 5, 2024, Pope Francis shared an emotion-filled time of encounter with the poor, elderly, and disabled at the premises of the Indonesian Bishops' Conference. Describing his audience as the “little shining stars in the sky of this archipelago,” he encouraged the national bishops' conference, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary, to take care of these “treasures” for the Church.
The Indonesian bishops had gathered about 100 people in the Henry Soetio hall to meet the Pope.
The Pope listened to the testimonies of a 17-year-old blind girl, Mimi, who confided that she had found in Jesus her “beacon of hope” and an 18-year-old boy with autism, Andrew, who told the Pope that he had been shortlisted for the Paralympics.
The Pope expressed his admiration for the young people, and then wished a happy birthday to an 87-year-old woman -- the same age as himself -- who was unable to attend the event, but who was connected via the phone of another participant.
“God created human beings with unique capacities to enrich the diversity of our world,” the Pontiff told them in a brief speech. He encouraged them to face their difficulties together insisting that everyone needs help, and that realizing this makes it possible to understand how “love is the most important thing in our existence.”
Pope Francis then wheeled through the crowd, grasping the hands of blind people, who gleefully expressed their surprise at the Pontiff's touch. He also hugged a young man who was moved to tears.
