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Pope Francis in the memories of non-Catholics
SBS Indonesian
07:00
On Easter day 2025, Pope Francis - known also in Indonesia as Paus Fransiskus - took his last breath in Vatican city at the age of 88 years old.
Pope Francis was the 266th head of the Catholic Church and had held the role since 2013. The passing of the first Pope from Latin America triggered grief among the Catholic community in many parts of the world.
However, this Pope also left lasting impressions on those who are not Catholic.
The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils issued an acknowledgement of this incident.
In the statement, Federation President Dr. Rateb Jneid stated that the passing of Pope Francis is a moment of reflection for people of all faiths,
“He was a global figure who spoke out strongly against injustice, war, and the abuse of power. In particular, his concern for the Palestinian people and his consistent opposition to oppression was something that resonated across communities of conscience,” the statement read.
The Australian Council of Christians and Jews voiced its condolences. According to the council, Pope Francis was a “...beacon of hope and a model of genuine interreligious friendship,” modeled by his enduring relationship with Rabbi Abraham Skorka,
Pope Francis did not visit Australia during his reign, but in 2024 he visited Indonesia, where he was greeted enthusiastically by followers of the Catholic faith, which numbered at around 8.5 million. He met then President Joko Widodo and attended an interfaith meeting at the Istiqlal Mosque. Over 50,000 people attended the mass led by Pope Francis in the Bung Karno stadium.
Zafira Amani and Sholihah Utami, both Muslim Indonesian students at the University of Melbourne, told SBS Indonesia how they were impressed by the late Pope’s humility - for instance, his refusal to use luxury cars during his visit to Indonesia - as well as his concern towards the conflict in Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands.
