Indonesia looks to strengthen Vatican links, says envoy

Mar 21, 2025

The Vatican-Indonesia diplomatic relations, which began 75 years ago, have stressed humanity and peace, and Indonesia looks to strengthen the links further, says its ambassador to the Holy See, Michael Trias Kuncahyono.

"Pope Francis' visit to Indonesia and the signing of the Istiqlal Declaration last September were a crowning achievement of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and the Holy See," he said in an interview published by Vatican's Fides news service on March 18. 

The establishment of the diplomatic tie on March 13, 1950, was a politically significant event for Indonesia as it happened five years after the nation became independent from Dutch rule in 1945, he said. 

He said the first native Indonesian bishop, Albertus Sugiyopranoto (1896 – 1963), played vital roles in the diplomatic links, besides taking the first steps in the Vatican recognizing Indonesian independence. 

Kuncahyono said that many missionaries were still in jails, arrested by the colonial rulers, when the talks about the ties took place. "This fact could have been a good push to get Indonesia's recognition," he said.  Kuncahyono said that the Holy See was interested in Indonesia as the Catholic community was growing, and the local Church needed to facilitate the pastoral work. 

"The recognition by the Holy See was of immense value: the Holy See was the first European entity to recognize the Indonesian State. It led other European States to follow the example. It was a decisive step," he said. 

Indonesia's adoption of the state philosophy "Pancasila" (five principles), which includes faith in God and oneness in diversity, made the Holy See realize there was fertile ground on which all religions could flourish, Kuncahyono said.

He noted that Indonesia's acceptance of human equality, cultural pluralism, and brotherhood aligns with Christian values, and this "unity in diversity" has garnered appreciation from the Vatican.

"The Holy See does not work for the maintenance of temporal power but for the development of man, his dignity and rights. I think Indonesia also has the same approach, as the Pancasila and our Constitution say, promoting equality, freedom, democracy as well as peace," the ambassador said. 

In the same way, the Vatican and Indonesia work to promote peace in conflict areas such as the Middle East, Ukraine, andMyanmar. 

"Hope must start from trust, which is the basis of relations between states. Hope for peace in the various conflict scenarios is generated on the basis of trust between the interlocutors," Kuncahyono added. 

Francis was the third pope to visit Indonesia in September, following Pope Paul VI (1970) and Pope John Paul II (1989). 

During Francis' visit, "Indonesia showed its true face, a plural face, composed of people of different cultures and religions who welcomed the Pope warmly and enthusiastically. Today, at the time of his illness, so many write to me, not only Catholics but also Muslims, saying: let us pray for him." 

The Holy See and Indonesia want to strengthen the relations more, primarily through culture. 

"We intend to make the pluralism of Indonesian culture and its peaceful face better known. The Holy See is, for us, also a gateway to the rest of the world. Another field of fruitful cooperation is interreligious dialogue. These are the paths for future relations."--ucanews.com