Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has urged Indonesian Catholics living in Rome to serve as ambassadors of dialogue, peace, and cultural harmony, reminding them that their presence abroad carries a mission of unity. The Pope met with members of the Indonesian Catholic community on Monday to mark two milestones: the first anniversary of Pope Francis’ historic Apostolic Journey to Indonesia and the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Southeast Asian nation.
In his address, Pope Leo recalled that the Holy See has walked alongside Indonesia since the country’s independence, with ties built on mutual respect and a shared pursuit of peace. He noted that this longstanding relationship reflects the essence of dialogue and the richness of diversity that Indonesia embodies.
The Pope also drew attention to Pope Francis’ 2024 visit to Indonesia, describing it as a moment of deepened friendship between the Church and the Indonesian people. That visit, he said, highlighted interreligious dialogue, most notably during the encounter at Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque, where Pope Francis and the Grand Imam signed a joint declaration promoting unity for the good of humanity.
Pope Leo praised the Indonesian Catholic community in Rome for nurturing their faith while preserving their cultural heritage. “Even far from home, you preserve your vibrant traditions and care for one another,” he said, calling their gathering in Rome a sign of the “good fruits of faith and unity.”
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, has long been admired for its interreligious coexistence. Catholics, who represent about 3% of the population, share in this harmony, embodying the national motto Bhinneka Tunggal Ika “Unity in Diversity.” The Pope reflected on Pope Francis’ words in Jakarta, noting that the peoples of Indonesia form a “unifying fabric” when they commit to the common good, likening it to a “delicate work of craftsmanship entrusted to everyone.”
Addressing the challenges and opportunities of life abroad, Pope Leo expressed gratitude for the Indonesian Catholic diaspora’s willingness to welcome new migrants and share their traditions with local communities in Rome. By doing so, he said, they live out the “culture of encounter” and model a way of communion that stands against division.
“I urge you to be prophets of communion in a world that so often seeks to divide and provoke,” Pope Leo said. “The path of dialogue the path of friendship may be challenging, but it yields the precious fruit of peace.”
Concluding his address, the Pope encouraged the community to embrace their dual identity as faithful Catholics and proud Indonesians, remaining devoted to the Gospel while actively building harmony in society. Entrusting them to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, Pope Leo prayed that Indonesian Catholics in Rome may continue to be “bridge-builders between peoples, cultures, and faiths.”