By Devin Watkins
Pope Leo XIV held an audience on Monday with Catholics from Indonesia living in Rome to mark the first anniversary of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Journey to the country and the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Indonesia.
In his address, the Pope recalled that the Holy See has walked with the Southeast Asian nation since its independence.
Those ties, he said, have been built on respect, dialogue, and a shared commitment to peace and harmony.
Pope Leo recalled Pope Francis’ Apostolic Journey to Indonesia as a special visit that deepened this friendship.
Interreligious dialogue featured prominently in the late Pope’s visit, especially during his visit to the Istiqlal Mosque, where he signed a joint declaration with the Grand Imam to foster unity for the good of humanity.
“This gathering itself is a sign of the good fruits of faith and unity,” said Pope Leo. “Even far from home, you preserve your vibrant traditions and care for one another.”
Indonesia is regarded as the world’s most-populous Muslim-majority nation, and Catholics make up around 3% of the population.
The Pope noted the strong ties that Indonesian Christians and non-Christians share for each other, which he said embodies the nation’s motto, “Unity in Diversity.”
“As Pope Francis said in Jakarta,” he said, “the peoples of Indonesia form a ‘unifying fabric’ when bound by the pursuit of the common good; indeed, maintaining harmony amid diversity is like a delicate ‘work of craftsmanship entrusted to everyone’.”
Pope Leo expressed appreciation for expat Indonesian Catholics’ desire to practice solidarity by welcoming new migrants while sharing their culture with local communities, saying they offer an example of the “culture of encounter.”
“I urge you to be prophets of communion in a world that so often seeks to divide and provoke,” he said. “The path of dialogue—the path of friendship—may be challenging, but it yields the precious fruit of peace.”
In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV invited Indonesians living in Rome to be both faithful Catholics and proud Indonesians, “devoted to the Gospel and to building harmony in society.”
He entrusted them to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, and prayed that they may continue to be “bridge-builders between peoples, cultures, and faiths.” – Vatican News
