Holy See–Indonesia relations

History

There have been relations between the Holy See and Indonesia since the era of the Majapahit empire. Between 1318 and 1330 CE, Mattiussi, a Franciscan friar, visited several places in today's Indonesia: Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. He was sent by the Pope to launch a mission into the lands of Mongols in the Asian interior. 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 king Jayanegara in Trowulan that was visited by Mattiussi.

During the colonial era of the Dutch East Indies, some parts of Indonesia, such as Flores, were known as Catholic-majority areas. During colonial times, most Dutch people residing in the Dutch East Indies were Dutch Reformed Protestants; however, the teachings of the Catholic 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 the Apostolic Nunciature to Indonesia and assigning Georges-Marie de Jonghe d'Ardoye as the first Vatican ambassador in Jakarta for the period 1947-1955.

There have been three papal visits to Indonesia: those of Pope Paul VI in December 1970, Pope John Paul II in October 1989,{{cite web |access-date = 21 August 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120129173045/http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/document.php?n=699 |url-status = dead |archive-date = January 29, 2012 |access-date = 22 August 2013 |access-date = 14 June 2018

Pope Leo XIV or Robert Prevost, prior of the Order of Saint Augustine back then, visited to Indonesia in 2003, with the agenda of celebrating the anniversary of the service of the Order of Saint Augustine in Papua. |access-date = 9 May 2025

References

References

1. "Diplomatic relations of the Holy See".
2. (20 March 2025). "Indonesia looks to strengthen Vatican links, says envoy". [[Union of Catholic Asian News]].
3. "Indonesia (nunciature)".
4. "Habig ofm ed., Marion, "Blessed Odoric Matiussi of Pordenone", ''The Franciscan Book of Saints'', Franciscan Herald Press, 1959".
5. (1996). "Ritual Networks and Royal Power in Majapahit Java, page:100". Persee.
6. (15 March 2013). "Ahok: Vatikan Negara Pertama Akui Kemerdekaan Indonesia".
7. "Address of the Holy Father Paul VI to the President of the Republic of Indonesia - Djakarta, Indonesia Thursday, 3 December 1970". Vatican.va.
8. M., Azmi Syamsul. (2024-09-06). "Pope Francis concludes his Apostolic visit to Indonesia".