POPE Francis has established certain habits over the years that have become beautiful traditions.
One example is his custom of praying before the image of Our Lady Protection of the Roman People (Salus Populi Romani) in St Mary Major Basilica in Rome before and after each apostolic journey.
Another of his routines, now considered a tradition, is to meet migrants, refugees or homeless people both before setting out on a journey and also upon arriving at his destination.
On September 2, just before embarking on the longest and most difficult journey of his pontificate to Southeast Asia and Oceania, he received about 15 homeless people at St Martha House accompanied by Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, pontifical almoner.
On Tuesday, upon arriving at the apostolic nunciature in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, he was welcomed by a group of refugees.
According to the Holy See Press Office, these were people taken in by the Jesuit Refugee Service, among whom were orphaned children raised by Dominican nuns.
Pope Francis also greeted elderly and homeless people served by the Sant’Egidio Community of Indonesia.
Following a 13-hour flight, Pope Francis landed in Jakarta, the first destination of an 11-day trip in which he will also visit Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore.
Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See press office, told reporters to expect Pope Francis to talk in Indonesia about the importance of fidelity to preserving the unity in diversity enshrined in the country’s constitution.
While Indonesia has the largest Muslim population of any country in the world, it also is home to Catholics and other Christians, Buddhists and Hindus.
The country also boasts of having more than 300 ethnic groups with dozens of languages.
The Pope’s schedule includes an interreligious meeting at Southeast Asia’s largest mosque as well as opportunities to meet with the nation’s Catholics and to visit some of the social and charitable works they carry out in Jesus’ name.
