Tribute to Pope Francis No.2 – Walking With Francis: A Personal Reflection on Encountering the Pope

By Paulinus Prasetyo Nurhardjanto
Vice President, International Council ICMICA Pax Romana
HR Professional and Lecturer at Atma Jaya Catholic University, Jakarta
Member of the Indonesian Catholic Scholars Association (ISKA)

When people ask me what it feels like to meet Pope Francis, I often struggle to find the right words. How can anyone truly describe the grace of encountering a man whose life is a living homily, whose gestures speak more loudly than decrees, and whose presence somehow brings the distant tenderness of God a little closer to earth? This reflection is my humble attempt to honor that extraordinary gift—of coming to know, even if briefly, the Pope who has redefined what it means to lead with love.

My journey began in Jakarta, where I had the unexpected blessing of joining the welcoming committee during Pope Francis’ historic visit to Indonesia in 2025. When I received the confirmation, I was overwhelmed by a sense of sacred responsibility. To be part of the team preparing to receive the Holy Father was not just an organizational task—it felt like preparing the soil of our hearts and homeland for the seeds of peace, justice, and mercy.

The Grand Mass at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on September 5th was nothing short of unforgettable. Tens of thousands gathered, bringing with them not just prayers and hymns, but stories, hopes, and a collective longing for spiritual renewal. I stood among the crowd, tears welling up as I watched Pope Francis bless the faithful. The stadium was transformed into a sanctuary. Time slowed, and I felt, as many did, that Christ Himself was walking among us.

 

Like A Return Visit

Two weeks later, that sacred thread of grace continued. I found myself traveling to Rome, to be part of a global delegation from IMCS and ICMICA Pax Romana. There, within the majestic walls of the Vatican, we were received in a private audience with Pope Francis. Delegates from 37 countries gathered—not as dignitaries, but as sons and daughters of the Church, eager to listen and learn.

When he spoke, the Holy Father did not give a grand theological lecture. Instead, he spoke as a pastor, urging us to nurture a spirit of global citizenship rooted in concrete local action. “By cultivating a sense of global citizenship and encouraging action at the local level,” he said, “your movements allow young people not only to deepen their understanding of today’s pressing social issues, but also to drive meaningful change in their communities, thus becoming leaven for the Gospel.”

His message echoed themes from several of his landmark documents. In Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), he called on all the faithful to go out to the peripheries and live a missionary discipleship. In Laudato Si’, he invited both scientists and spiritual leaders to an integral ecology that places care for our common home at the heart of faith and action. And in Fratelli Tutti, he spoke directly to leaders, professionals, and intellectuals about the importance of social friendship and political love in reimagining a more just world. These writings became guiding lights for Catholic professionals like myself, who live out faith not only in parishes but also in workplaces, classrooms, and public service.

In our audience, Pope Francis also reminded Pax Romana to embrace the Church’s synodal path—to walk together, listen deeply, and engage with openness and intelligence. For those of us working in fields where listening and dialogue are often sacrificed for speed and certainty, this was a profound spiritual recalibration.

 

Little Old Me

As I sat there, taking in every word, I became more aware of how improbable my presence in that room was. I was born into a Muslim family. I was baptized Catholic as an adult. I never studied in Catholic schools. I don’t come from a deeply liturgical or spiritual background. And yet, I was there—face to face with the Pope, a witness to a moment many lifelong Catholics dream of.

That contrast only deepened the grace I felt. I’ve never considered myself especially devout. I stumble, I question, I wrestle with faith. And yet, I was entrusted with this moment—a reminder that God’s mercy does not depend on our qualifications, but on His boundless love. In that sacred space, I remembered the words from the Gospel of Mark: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17). These words never felt more real.

Meeting Pope Francis, both in Jakarta and in Rome, has changed how I walk through the world. I carry with me not just his message, but his manner—his humility, his courage, his joy. He has shown me that the Church is not a fortress for the perfect, but a field hospital for the wounded. A place where doubt can coexist with faith, where difference is not division, and where listening is a form of love.

 

In Memory of the Pope Who Has Left Us

Part of what made Pope Francis so beloved was the authenticity of his simplicity. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he was the son of immigrants. He trained as a chemist before joining the Jesuits. His early life working among the poor shaped his lifelong commitment to a Church that smells like the sheep, a Church that lives alongside the poor and marginalized.

Even after ascending to the papacy in 2013—the first Jesuit and the first Latin American pope—he never abandoned that simplicity. He lived in the guesthouse rather than the Apostolic Palace, carried his own bag, and often made surprise phone calls to ordinary people. His leadership was not defined by grandeur, but by closeness, compassion, and courage.

When news came of his passing on April 21st, 2025, the world mourned. Not just Catholics, but people of all faiths and none grieved a man who had become a moral compass in turbulent times. I remember lighting a candle that evening in silence, carrying within me all the memories of having seen him with my own eyes and heard his voice speak peace into our world.

And above all, I return with a prayer in my heart. A prayer that the legacy of Pope Francis—his vision of a Church that listens, that walks with the poor, that embraces the world with tenderness—will not fade, but flourish.

May his spirit continue to color the life of the Catholic Church and shape the face of the world.

By Paulinus Prasetyo Nurhardjanto

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