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 Holy See |  Indonesia |
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TheHoly See andIndonesia established diplomatic relations on 13 March 1950.[1][2] Relations are important as part of globalinterfaith dialogue, becauseIndonesia has the world's largestMuslim-majority population.[3] Indonesia recognizesRoman Catholicism as one of itssix approved religions. TheHoly See has anunciature in Jakarta,[4] while Indonesia has an embassy inRome.[5]
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There have been relations between the Holy See and Indonesia since the era of theMajapahit empire. Between 1318 and 1330 CE,Mattiussi, a Franciscan friar, visited several places in today's Indonesia:Sumatra,Java, andBorneo. 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 kingJayanegara inTrowulan that was visited by Mattiussi.[7]
During the colonial era of theDutch East Indies, some parts of Indonesia, such asFlores, were known asCatholic-majority areas. During colonial times, mostDutch people residing in the Dutch East Indies wereDutch Reformed Protestants; however, the teachings of theCatholic 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 theApostolic Nunciature to Indonesia and assigningGeorges-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 ofPope Paul VI in December 1970,[9]Pope John Paul II in October 1989,[10] andPope Francis in September 2024.[11] All of them paid a courtesy visit toIndonesian President, with both Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II to PresidentSuharto, and Pope Francis to PresidentJoko Widodo. During his visit, Pope John Paul II celebrated a Mass and addressed a crowd of 130,000 Indonesian Catholics congregated inGelora Bung Karno Stadium.[12] Since September 2017, theApostolic Nunciature to Indonesia has been assigned to ArchbishopPiero Pioppo.[13]
Pope Leo XIV or Robert Prevost, prior of theOrder of Saint Augustine back then, visited to Indonesia in 2003, with the agenda of celebrating the anniversary of the service of theOrder of Saint Augustine inPapua.[14]
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