JAKARTA —Pope Francis will inaugurate the first regional headquarters of Scholas Occurrentes in Southeast Asia during his Apostolic Journey to Indonesia from September 3 to 6. This visit marks a significant milestone in the global educational project, which Pope Francis originally initiated in 2001 as Archbishop of Buenos Aires. Scholas Occurrentes focuses on engaging youth through education, art, and sports.

On September 4, the Holy Father will visit the “Grha Pemuda” Youth House in Jakarta, where he will meet with 200 Indonesian students from various islands, schools, and religious backgrounds. This event underscores the values of unity in diversity and the culture of encounter, which are central to the mission of Scholas Occurrentes.

The organization will also launch the Scholas Citizenship program in Southeast Asia, in collaboration with Indonesia’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, and the Global 5P Movement. This program aims to train university students and young teachers in the Scholas methodology, which they will implement in their communities. The approach is particularly relevant to Indonesia, where the youth population is rapidly growing.

Scholas Occurrentes began as a project to bring together students from public and private schools in Buenos Aires, regardless of their religious background, to work for the common good. Since becoming a pontifical foundation in 2013, it has expanded its reach to nearly 450,000 schools and educational institutions worldwide.

In 2022, Scholas Occurrentes participated in the G20 Summit in Bali, presenting its educational model to global leaders. The organization also engaged with local youth in Genggelang village in Lombok, where they planted an olive tree as a symbol of peace. These activities laid the groundwork for the new regional headquarters in Southeast Asia.

As part of his visit, Pope Francis will also travel to Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore. This journey is notable for being the longest and most demanding of his pontificate, covering almost 40,000 kilometers. However, according to Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, the Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, this journey is not about setting records but is rather "an act of humility before the Lord who calls us" and "obedience to the mission."

In an interview with the Vatican's Fides News Agency, Cardinal Tagle emphasized the significance of this visit to the universal Church, particularly in light of the challenges faced by the "smaller flocks" in these regions. He noted that this journey is a continuation of a project that was initially scheduled for 2020 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision to embark on this journey now, despite its challenges, reflects Pope Francis' paternal closeness to what he refers to as the "existential peripheries."

Cardinal Tagle addressed concerns that this trip indicates a preference for the East over the West, clarifying that such interpretations are misguided. "Papal journeys are not about preferring one continent or part of the world over another," he explained. "They are about encouraging Catholics in all contexts and addressing the needs of humanity, particularly where there is significant poverty and suffering."

He also highlighted the importance of the Holy Father's visit to countries where Christians are a minority, noting that local Churches often invite Pope Francis alongside civil authorities and political leaders. "For them, Pope Francis remains a powerful symbol of human coexistence in a spirit of fraternity and for the care of Creation," Cardinal Tagle said.

Reflecting on his experiences in the regions that the Holy Father will visit, Cardinal Tagle shared insights from his Apostolic Visitations to Seminaries in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. He described how the Church in these regions, although newer, has already made significant contributions to the universal Church, such as producing martyrs like Peter To Rot.

Cardinal Tagle also spoke about the unique cultural and religious diversity in Indonesia, which is home to the world's largest Muslim population. He praised the coexistence between different religious communities in the country, emphasizing that the Holy Father's visit will further strengthen the bonds of fraternity among believers of different faiths.

As Pope Francis prepares to embark on this historic journey, Cardinal Tagle expressed hope that the Holy Father and all those accompanying him, including journalists, will experience the creativity of the Holy Spirit in these diverse contexts. He also noted that the small Christian communities in these regions offer valuable lessons in humility and perseverance, which can inspire the broader Church.

In conclusion, Cardinal Tagle underscored the importance of understanding the missionary work in these regions, not as an extension of cultural colonialism, but as a testament to the enduring power of the Gospel. "Missionaries obey Christ's command to go to the ends of the earth to proclaim the Gospel," he said. "Their work is a gift to the Church, and where there is a real possibility of martyrdom, faith spreads."