INDONESIA The Indonesian Episcopal Conference celebrates its centenary

The first meetings between prefects and apostolic vicars took place in 1924, when the country was still a Dutch colony. On the occasion of the anniversary, an extraordinary Assembly and the inauguration of the new headquarters were held. The government representative for relations with Catholics called for “working together in the most abandoned areas of the country.”

Jakarta () – The Bishops’ Conference of Indonesia (KWI) met in recent days in an extraordinary Assembly to celebrate its centenary. Indeed, the country’s bishops trace the origin of their common path to a meeting of all the prefects and apostolic vicars of the then Dutch colony that was held on May 13, 1924 in the Jakarta cathedral. On the occasion of these celebrations, tomorrow the blessing of the new offices of the Episcopal Conference will also take place. “Walk together for the good of the Church and the country” is the motto that has been chosen for this event, when there are just a few months left before the visit of Pope Francis scheduled for September.

At the opening session of the Assembly, yesterday afternoon, the attendees were greeted by the apostolic nuncio Mons. Piero Pioppo, the head of the department of relations with Catholics of the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag), Dr. Suparman, and the president of the Synod of the Protestant Church, Gomar Gultom.

Monsignor Pioppo stressed the special attention of the Indonesian Episcopal Conference to living this anniversary under the sign of synodality. “The bishops want to live their current mission in continuity with the past – stated the nuncio -. “In the style of Jesus and his disciples, they have never neglected their mission of making the Church and the nation grow.” The prelate also stated that he is sure that the visit of Pope Francis will give new impetus to this path.

Representing the government, Dr. Suparman expressed the availability of civil authorities to collaborate with the Church for the growth of the country. A closeness-he explained to – which targets in particular efforts on the country’s periphery. The official from the Ministry of Religious Affairs also promised financial help, especially for communities in the most abandoned remote areas who want to renovate places of worship and educational structures. “Our attention is primarily directed to the people who live in these areas.”

For his part, the president of the Episcopal Conference, Mons. Antonius Subianto, Bishop of Bandung, expressed his confidence in the path of the Church in Indonesia and in its ability to collaborate with all other groups in society for the good of the country.