Holy See–Indonesia relations

Bilateral relations

Holy See–Indonesian relations

Holy See |
Indonesia

The Holy See and Indonesia established diplomatic relations on 13 March 1950.[1][2] Relations are important as part of global interfaith dialogue, because Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim-majority population.[3] Indonesia recognizes Roman Catholicism as one of its six approved religions. The Holy See has a nunciature in Jakarta,[4] while Indonesia has an embassy in Rome.[5]

## History

[edit]

Georges-Marie de Jonghe d'Ardoye (left) with first Indonesian President Sukarno and Jesuit bishop Albertus Soegijapranata, c. 1947. Chapel of the Vatican Embassy in Jakarta President Joko Widodo and Pope Francis at the Merdeka Palace

There have been relations between the Holy See and Indonesia since the era of the Majapahit empire. Between 1318 and 1330 CE, Mattiussi, a Franciscan friar, visited several places in today's Indonesia: Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. He was sent by the Pope to launch a mission into the lands of Mongols in the Asian interior.[6] In his report, he described the marvelous palace of the Javanese King and the war with the Great Khan of China. It was the court of Majapahit king Jayanegara in Trowulan that was visited by Mattiussi.[7]

During the colonial era of the Dutch East Indies, some parts of Indonesia, such as Flores, were known as Catholic-majority areas. During colonial times, most Dutch people residing in the Dutch East Indies were Dutch Reformed Protestants; however, the teachings of the Catholic Church began to spread there in the 19th century. The Vatican only recognized Indonesia on July 6, 1947 which was marked by the opening of an embassy called the Apostolic Nunciature to Indonesia and assigning Georges-Marie de Jonghe d'Ardoye as the first Vatican ambassador in Jakarta for the period 1947-1955.[8]

There have been three papal visits to Indonesia: those of Pope Paul VI in December 1970,[9] Pope John Paul II in October 1989,[10] and Pope Francis in September 2024.[11] All of them paid a courtesy visit to Indonesian President, with both Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II to President Suharto, and Pope Francis to President Joko Widodo. During his visit, Pope John Paul II celebrated a Mass and addressed a crowd of 130,000 Indonesian Catholics congregated in Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.[12] Since September 2017, the Apostolic Nunciature to Indonesia has been assigned to Archbishop Piero Pioppo.[13]

Pope Leo XIV visited to Indonesia in 2003, with the agenda of celebrating the anniversary of the service of the Order of Saint Augustine in Papua.[14]

## See also

[edit]

* Catholicism in Indonesia
* Pope Francis' visit to Indonesia

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Diplomatic relations of the Holy See". Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
2. ^ "Indonesia looks to strengthen Vatican links, says envoy". Union of Catholic Asian News. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
3. ^ Margareth S. Aritonang and Ina Parlina (March 15, 2013). "Indonesian Muslims seek better ties with new pope". thejakartapost.com. The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
4. ^ "Indonesia (nunciature)". Retrieved 20 August 2013.
5. ^ "Embassy of Republic of Indonesia to the Holy See". indonesiavatican.it. Embassy of Republic of Indonesia to the Holy See. Archived from the original on 14 August 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
6. ^ "Habig ofm ed., Marion, "Blessed Odoric Matiussi of Pordenone", The Franciscan Book of Saints, Franciscan Herald Press, 1959". Archived from the original on 2013-05-28. Retrieved 2013-08-21.
7. ^ Hall, Kenneth (1996). "Ritual Networks and Royal Power in Majapahit Java, page:100". Archipel. 52 (1). Persee: 95–118\. doi:10.3406/arch.1996.3357. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
8. ^ "Ahok: Vatikan Negara Pertama Akui Kemerdekaan Indonesia". Liputan6.com (in Indonesian). 15 March 2013.
9. ^ "Address of the Holy Father Paul VI to the President of the Republic of Indonesia - Djakarta, Indonesia Thursday, 3 December 1970". Vatican.va. Archived from the original on 3 March 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
10. ^ Haberman, Clyde (October 10, 1989). "Pope, on Delicate Ground, Visits Indonesia". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
11. ^ M., Azmi Syamsul; Ihsan, Nabil (2024-09-06). Kurmala, Azis (ed.). "Pope Francis concludes his Apostolic visit to Indonesia". antaranews.com. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
12. ^ Pope John Paul II (1989). "Holy Mass in the Stadium of "Istora Senayan" in Jakarta, Indonesia". Catholic News Agency. Catholic News Agency. Archived from the original on January 29, 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
13. ^ "Archbishop Piero Pioppo". Catholic Hierarchy. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
14. ^ "Paus Leo XIV Pernah Kunjungi Ke Papua Pada Tahun 2003, Ini Yang Dilakukannya" (in Indonesian). Tempo.co. Retrieved 9 May 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* Embassy of Republic of Indonesia to the Holy See

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