Syukur was one of the 21 new cardinals who were announced on 6 October last and who will be created in the next consistory on 7 and 8 September,

‘His Excellency's request is motivated by his desire to grow further in his priestly life, in his service to the Church and to the people of God,' the director of the Vatican Press Office, Matteo Bruni, wrote in a note.

Bishop Suykur, a 62-year-old friar minor, who has led the Bogor diocese since 2013 and is also secretary of the Indonesian Bishops' Conference, would become the first cardinal from Flores, the island that is considered the heart of Indonesian Catholicism.

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Speaking at St Peter's Square on 18 September, the Pope said the Church is "more alive" in areas like Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore.

The pontiff emphasised the Church's need to move beyond its European roots and embrace the global Catholic community.

Francis remarked "We are still too Eurocentric… but in reality, the Church is much bigger… and much more alive in these countries".

Fraternity is the future

Reflecting on the Asian tour, Pope Francis praised the "missionary, outgoing Church" he encountered, especially in Indonesia, a Muslim-majority country where Catholics make up only 3% of the population.

He observed a dynamic faith community there, actively transmitting the Gospel.

Pope Francis signed a joint declaration with the Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque in Indonesia, condemning religious-based violence and promoting interfaith harmony.

"There, I saw that fraternity is the future, it is the answer to anti-civilisation, to the diabolical plots of hatred, war and also sectarianism" he said.

In Papua New Guinea, the Pope was welcomed by indigenous tribes who have embraced Catholicism.

He met with missionaries and catechists whom he called the "protagonists" of his visit and expressed hope for a future free from tribal violence and colonial dependencies.

Salt and light

The Pope's visit to East Timor, predominantly a Catholic nation, also left a strong impression.

He was touched by the country's large families and abundant religious vocations.

He called East Timor a model of a "culture of life", contrasting it with wealthier nations like Singapore which he said could learn from its example of high birth rates.

His final stop in Singapore, though starkly different from the other nations, reaffirmed his belief in the power of small, faith-driven communities.

"Even in wealthy Singapore, there are the ‘little ones' who follow the Gospel and become salt and light, witnesses to a hope greater than what economic gains can guarantee" he added.

The Pope's reflections emphasised the universality of the Catholic Church, urging believers to look beyond Europe to the flourishing faith communities in other parts of the world.

Sources

Catholic News Agency

La Croix International

CathNews New Zealand

"No one cares about the tragic fate of the Papuan minority, who suffer from the injustices of the ruling powers and the Indonesian military, who accuse them of being separatists," said Father Alexandro Rangga.

Speaking by phone from Jakarta, the 37-year-old Franciscan, originally from Flores and living in Jayapura, the capital of Indonesian Papua for 20 years, summarised the tragedy and violence the Papuan minority has suffered since their territory's annexation in 1969, largely hidden from the world.

Papua lives under constant tension

"Majority Christian and Catholic," Father Rangga noted, "the Papuans hope to hear a message of support and hope from Pope Francis, who is attuned to issues of injustice, migration, and environmental destruction."

Closed off to journalists and UN diplomats seeking to investigate human rights abuses by the Indonesian military, Papua remains tense.

While neighboring Papua New Guinea, with a population of 10 million, gained independence from Australia in 1975, Indonesia forcefully took control of the other half of the island, Papua, home to 6 million people, in 1962, officially annexing it in 1969 after a sham referendum endorsed by the United Nations.

A militarised province

"It's Indonesia's original sin against this province, rich in natural resources," lamented a Jesuit priest recently returning from Papua.

The wealth from copper, gold, nickel, gas, and precious timber does not benefit the people of Papua, who remain the poorest in Indonesia.

Underdevelopment and discrimination have fueled an independence conflict that has displaced 100,000 people and claimed 150,000 lives.

For five decades, the separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM) has waged a low-intensity guerrilla war against the Indonesian military, which tightly controls the region.

"Since 2001, there's been a special autonomy law, but it's had little impact on local populations who demand a fairer share of the mining profits.

"What's happening is both a genocide and an ecocide, while the military presence has never been stronger," asserted Ayu Utami, a Catholic writer and human rights activist in Jakarta.

"She believes "Papua is a disaster because the government only approaches the issue through a security lens. The army should be withdrawn to pacify the region, but local oligarchs, politicians, and generals are in collusion."

Delivering messages to the Pope remains a challenge

For weeks, the Justice and Peace Commission in Jayapura has been trying to send a message to Pope Francis about the humanitarian catastrophe in Papua.

However, an Indonesian priest, speaking anonymously, revealed there are "obstacles and significant pressure, even from within the Catholic hierarchy, to prevent the pope from receiving these messages or addressing the Papuan issue."

A book written by 34 Papuans, including priests, detailing the history of Papuan Catholics and translated into Italian, was meant to be presented to Pope Francis in Jakarta by the Bishop of Jayapura, but this was prohibited.

"We still have hope," said Father Rangga.

"For the Papuans, even a simple mention of their existence by the Pope would be a form of recognition of their suffering and a political success that could improve their future."

• First published by La Croix International
• Dorian Malovic is a French journalist, winner of the 2007 Grand prix catholique de littérature.

He said proclaiming the Gospel should "always be done with great respect and fraternal affection for all".

Fraternal living means "accepting one another and recognising each other as equals in our differences" Francis said.

It is important "in a world in which the tendency to divide, assert and provoke seems to be increasing".

Christian charity is necessary as it requires we get closer to one another, he said.

Evangelise with patience, Francis recommended.

Missionary work means accepting people's "dreams and desires for liberation and justice".

It means caring for people, supporting them and working with them, Francis explained. Including others in this work is necessary to "widen the net and the boundaries in a great, expanding dynamic of love".

"We need to let go of everything that stops us from getting in touch with those who are down and so lift them up and give them new hope" he said.

Indonesia

The Pope praised the Church in Indonesia for its fraternal tradition.

He said he could see the "openness with which it deals with the different realities that make it up and surround it, on a cultural, ethnic, social and religious level".

Papua New Guinea

In Papua New Guinea Francis heard of testimonies about the joy and difficulties catechists and clergy experience when evangelising people.

"Don't be discouraged by difficulties or misunderstandings, even when they arise in places where we especially do not want to encounter them" Francis said.

Among those who spoke was a woman who went to the Synod on Synodality last year.

Praising her, Francis said it is possible to show how beautiful it is to follow Jesus together and proclaim His gospel among people.

Sources

• UCA News
• english.katholisch.de

The pontiff arrived in Jakarta on 3 September, marking the start of his 12-day trip across Asia and Oceania.

On 5 September, Pope Francis is expected to preside over a large interfaith gathering at Istiqlal Mosque, the largest mosque in Southeast Asia.

The mosque is located opposite Jakarta's Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption. The two iconic sites are linked by a "fraternity tunnel" which symbolises religious unity and will be opened to the public after the pope's visit.

Joy and enthusiasm

Indonesian Catholics and non-Catholics alike have welcomed the pope's Indonesia visit with joy and enthusiasm.

Maria Jovita, a 21-year-old Catholic student, said the pope's visit inspires young people. "The pope is not just the supreme leader of the Catholic Church but also an icon of global peace" she said.

"The papal visit emboldens the spirit of Catholic youth across Indonesia and also youths from other faiths" she told UCA News.

Muslim residents have also praised Pope Francis for his commitment to promoting peace and interfaith dialogue. Nabila Aprilia, a Muslim who plans to attend the interfaith meeting, said "I welcome the pope because his visit unites all religions in Indonesia".

"I am glad he will visit the mosque, and Muslims feel proud of it" she added.

Yahya Cholil Staquf, the chairman of Indonesia's largest liberal Muslim organisation Nahdatul Ulama, which has 80 million followers, was among those who welcomed Francis when he arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta.

Cholil said the pope was welcome to "enjoy the country of unity, tolerance and brotherhood".

Peace and brotherhood

Pope Francis' Indonesia visit underscores his global appeal for harmony. He continues to advocate for peace in conflict regions such as Ukraine and the Middle East.

His prior efforts, including signing the 2019 Document on Human Fraternity with Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, are also recognised for fostering Christian-Muslim solidarity.

The Abu Dhabi Document is hailed as a Muslim-Christian manifesto for world peace and brotherhood based on religious harmony.

Sources

UCA News

Channel News Asia

CathNews New Zealand

The alleged Muslim attackers and others mobbed 12 students while they were conducting a traditional house-to-house rosary service on 5 May.

For many Indonesian Catholics the month of May is special, a time to visit Marian grottos and shrines to pay their respects to the mother of Jesus.

Pray at home

The man at the head of an Islamic extremist group said Christians should gather in church.

"If you perform any praying, do it in your church as we local Muslims are used to in our mosque; not in a residential house like this" a man told witnesses.

He and his fellow attackers ordered the students to stop the prayer activity and disperse.

The man then returned with a mob who attacked the students.

Police complaint lodged

"We were at the police's command post until 3am to demand perpetrators be held accountable for last night's hostile deed" one of the students says.

Two female students were injured and one Muslim man was assaulted for defending the students.

The victims were saved as other Muslims extended help.

The police have now opened an investigation.

Speaking to local media, Chief Superintendent Alvino Cahyadi said police were looking into the case after a video about the incident was posted on social media.

Some female students suffered minor injuries.

Arrests made

Police in South Tangerang presented the suspects to media on Tuesday this week.

"In a series of case proceedings, we concluded that there was sufficient evidence so they were named suspects" police say.

A police statement says the suspects provoked the students and shouted at them "in a loud voice with a tone of swearing and intimidation".

It also says others carrying knives joined in the attack.

Source

• UCA News
• Asia News

In the July 17 circular, Muhammad Syarifuddin, chairman of the Supreme Court, emphasised the need to establish guidelines to "provide certainty and unity in the application of law in adjudicating applications for the registration of marriages between people of different religions and beliefs."

The Supreme Court stressed that "a valid marriage is a marriage that is carried out according to the laws of each religion and belief" in accordance with the 1974 Marriage Law.

The circular contradicts a 1986 Supreme Court ruling that states interfaith marriages are legal in Indonesia by way of a court order. The order later became the jurisprudence for judges in deciding similar cases.

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A Catholic group in Indonesia's conflict-torn Papua province is teaching the seminarians to report on events in remote areas where there is limited access for journalists.

Rights activists often criticise Indonesia's mainstream media for reporting news based on the claims of the government and security forces but rarely accommodating Papuan voices.

The Franciscans' Secretariat for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation training drew 28 seminarians (pictured) from across Indonesia. Some will spend their pastoral year in parishes in remote areas.

The seminarians were instructed in new evangelisation through social media, news and feature writing techniques, digital security and evangelisation through short videos.

Yuliana Langowuyo, the secretariat's executive director and one of the instructors, said the training targeted Indonesian seminarians because of their vital role in the Papuan context.

They carry out their usual pastoral duties and are also expected to speak out on social issues in remote areas where access is difficult.

"They are our mainstay. We can get primary information from them, including a comparison with information from the authorities and from pro-government media.

"So far I have focused only on reflecting on those issues in the context of my vocation. Now it helps me to make these problems a concern of many people by writing about them.

"If we wait for journalists to reach remote areas, then the narrative of injustice and other humanitarian problems that occur in communities will not be able to reach the public, and policy advocacy will be more difficult."

One of the seminarians says although the time for the training was short, he found it very helpful to be able to identify issues in society that are important, have a broad impact and need to be known by many people.

As an example of the problems of education, health and malnutrition in his diocese, he says: "This training showed me how to provide good, precise, accurate and understandable information for many people."

Papua has been beset by conflict since becoming part of Indonesia in 1969, with continued resistance from armed pro-independence groups.

In the Press Freedom Index released by Indonesia's Press Council in January, Papua was in the "somewhat free" category with a score of 68.87 and ranked 33rd out of 34 provinces.

The Indonesian government continues to impose restrictions on foreign journalists visiting the region.

Source

• UCA News

"We are very concerned with this incident which targeted church servants," Father Marthen Kuayo, apostolic administrator of Timika Diocese, told UCA News on Oct. 28.

Tigau, 28, was reportedly killed on Oct. 26 after being shot near his home in Jalae village of Intan Jaya district by soldiers. A 6-year-old boy, Herman Kobagau, was also reported injured.

The army and police insisted that Tigau was a member of the Armed Separatist Criminal Group.

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Archbishop Agustinus Agus of Pontianak was among five local officials and religious leaders to attend the event on Aug. 21 in Landak district.

West Kalimantan police chief Remigius Sigid Tri Hardjanto laid the first stone for the Nur Aman Mosque located on the grounds of the district police headquarters. Read more

This is an increase from last year, when nearly 90,000 security personnel guarded about 50,000 churches across the country.

An official of the National Police Traffic Corps told journalists that police, military personnel and members of government agencies will guard churches and vital tourism sites during the celebrations.

"These are our targets which we need to focus on. We want to make sure that everything will run peacefully there," he said. Continue reading

They'd gained a lot of attention online, with the Australian government updating its advice for tourists heading to Bali.

Now President Joko Widodo says the new laws need more consideration and has delayed next week's vote.

Bali's a hugely popular destination, attracting millions of visitors each year.

There was criticism over the planned changes, with more than 500,000 people signing a petition urging the president to intervene.

The House of Representatives commission - which oversees legal matters in Indonesia - agreed on a final draft this week. Read more

Last year, there were 160 West Papuans studying in New Zealand.

In August a long-simmering discontent exploded into a mass uprising.

The number involved has reportedly reached tens of thousands.

At least 10 people are said to have been killed in separate clashes between the demonstrators, and security forces and vigilante mobs.

The trouble was sparked off when security forces and militia mobs stormed the dormitories of West Papuan students studying in Surabaya and Malang, East Java.

The pretext was an accusation - never substantiated - that the students had damaged a flag pole flying the Indonesian flag.

The number involved has reportedly reached tens of thousands.

At least 10 people are said to have been killed in separate clashes between the demonstrators, and security forces and vigilante mobs.

New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) said it was closely monitoring the security situation in West Papua.

MFAT said it has encouraged Indonesia to facilitate a visit to Papua by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

"We have urged Indonesia to respect and protect the human rights of all its citizens," a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said.

"New Zealand recognises Papua as part of Indonesia's sovereign territory.

"We continue to encourage Indonesia to promote peaceful social and economic development in Papua."

Despite MFATs efforts, some say New Zealand has not done enough.

West Papua Action Auckland has written an open letter to Jacinda Ardern.

They are urging her to condemn the racism that started the protests and end the internet blackout which is hampering journalists covering the story.

Source

• rnz.co.nz
• thejakartapost.com
• scoop.co.nz
• thespinoff.co.nz
• infowestpapua.com
• Image: infowestpapua.com

Indonesia's largest Islamic bodies have denounced the jailing, with senior figures from Indonesia's two largest Islamic bodies backing them.

"I do not see how saying ‘adzan is too loud' is an expression of hatred of hostility toward a particular group or religion," said Robikin Emhas, head of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) legal division. Read more

The government wants the 29 universities to transfer knowledge between them and the institutions they have been assigned to, not only on the academic front, but also with regard to administration and management.

Elisabeth Rukmini, Vice Rector for Collaboration, Research & Strategic Planning at Atma Jaya Catholic University, said the university regarded the task as an honour, which showed the government recognized the school as one of the best in Indonesia.

She said Atma Jaya was to take under its wing four Catholic and Protestant colleges in East Nusa Tenggara province where the quality of education remains a big issue.

"Our task is to help raise their standards," Rukmini told ucanews.com.

"We will also invite lecturers from East Nusa Tenggara universities to learn directly from us," she said.

Soegijapranata Catholic University has been handed the task of mentoring five institutions regarded as third tier schools.

"The government has assigned us five universities in Medan, North Sumatra, two of which are Catholic and the other three Protestant," said Agustinus Luwi Handoko, a lecturer at Soegijapranata.

"Workshops will help improve their administration, management and accreditation process and we will also invite their lecturers to see how we do things at this university," he added.

Franciscan Father Vincentius Darmian Mbula, an educational expert and chairman of National Council of Catholic Universities, welcomed the initiative.

He said many universities — including Catholic ones — are struggling to provide excellence.

"I hope this programme can improve Catholic colleges in Indonesia so that they can provide more graduates with excellent capabilities," he said.

Source

• ucanews.com
• Image: dealstreetasia.com

Bishop Hubertus Leteng, 58, was accused of borrowing $94,000 from the Indonesian bishops' conference, as well as $30,000 from the Diocese of Ruteng. Continue reading

Indonesia's Ambassador to Samoa, Tonga and New Zealand, Tantowi Yahya, says protesters supporting West Papua independence should have sought a government permit before they staged the protest.

About 30 local people participated in the protest in front of the hotel in which the Pacific Island Forum leaders summit is held in Samoa.Ambassador Yahya said the issue of Papua was not on the agenda at this Forum meeting.

An Indonesian foreign affairs Ambassador Yahya said the issue of Papua was not on the agenda at this Forum meeting. An Indonesian foreign affairs official says the Forum meeting is not the place to raise the West Papua issue.

He says the 1969 integration of West Papua into Indonesia has been relegated to the history pages.

However, The General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, Reverend Francois Pihaatae, said a protest that took place during the forum supporting West Papua's independence was nothing new.

Mr Pihaatae said it illustrated the strong support from some. He urged all Pacific nations to express their concern as seen in Samoa.

Indonesia's Ambassador was at the meeting and condemned the protest and accused Pacific Islanders of being misled on a human rights situation that had largely improved.

But on behalf of the churches, Mr Pihaatae says the demonstrators believe that people in West Papua are still struggling.

"Whatever the Indonesian said, I will never, never believe that something is fine in West Papua because we have evidence that [they are] living out every day, the killing of the people," Reverend Francois Pihaatae said.

The organiser of the [protest in Samoa, Jerome Mika, says Samoans have had the right to freedom of expression since independence and he said the demonstrators were encouraging Pacific island leaders to support such freedom for West Papua.

Source

• Radio NZ
• Radio NZ
• Image: Radio NZ

Bishop Ludovicus Manullang of Sibolga in North Sumatra said he would suspend Fr Rantinus Manalu.

The priest is to run for public office in local elections next year.

Fr Manalu is known for his anti-corruption stance and support for marginalised farmers.

A Muslim cleric is running as his deputy.

"[Father Manalu] will be granted a suspension from the priesthood in accordance with church law," Bishop Simanullang told ucanews.com.

He did not specify when the official letter will be issued.

"His priestly jurisdiction will be revoked," the prelate said.

Fr Manalu declared his candidacy after 30,000 citizens backed him in a petition.

The priest said he hoped his priestly duties would be reinstated if he loses next year's election or after his public office ends if he wins.

"I consider this suspension as something legitimate," said Fr Manalu.

He also said "it's not related to moral issues but my intention to bring change to society".

Susan Binsasi Sarumaha of Vox Point Institute said that Fr Manalu should take a firm stand and leave the priesthood.

"Choosing [public office] is also a sacred and noble calling," Ms Sarumaha said.

"If he considers it a vocation he must not be half-hearted."

Vox Point Institute is an association of Catholic laity who care about socio-political problems.

Sources

• UCA News
• Image: UCA News

The event, involving 239 couples and several priests, took place on the property of St Filomena Church in Mena.

The main reason for the combined wedding was the desire to assist the issuing of marriage certificates by the state.

This is a notoriously drawn out process in Indonesia.

Continue reading

Most have since been released.

In the wake of the arrests, New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully, not for the first time, was pressed about the rights situation in West Papua.

"The government is concerned about these matters," he told parliament, "and the government wants to see an improvement in the situation in that part of the world."

"The government does not believe that megaphone diplomacy will serve that objective."

Politicians in Australia have frequently claimed that the economic and social plight of the indigenous people of Indonesia's West Papua region was improving.

But a new report called 'We will Lose Everything', based on a fact finding mission the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission in Brisbane, concludes otherwise.

It's traditional for West Papuans to demonstrate around May the 1st.

This date is the anniversary of transfer of administration in the former Dutch New Guinea to Indonesia in 1963, a process in which Papuans were not consulted.

But this year they were also demonstrating their support for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua's bid to be a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, as well as the International Parliamentarians for West Papua.

The IPWP, a network of politicians from around the world who support self-determination for West Papua and are concerned about ongoing human rights abuses against Papuans, held a summit in London last week.

Attended by MPs from the wider Pacific, Europe and Britain, as well as Liberation Movement leaders such as Benny Wenda, the summit resulted in a declaration calling for an internationally-supervised vote on independence in West Papua.

Source

• radionz.co.nz
• Image: radionz.co.nz