Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ambon (Fides Service) - With a message from Pope Benedict XVI who encourages the people of Moluccas and assures them of his prayers, Papal Nuncio in Indonesia and East Timor Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige paid a pastoral a week long visit 2-9 December to Catholics in the Moluccas islands. The Archbishop has just been called to Rome to be secretary of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments.
The Nuncio had meetings with local Catholics and presided several liturgies. He also met civil and political local authorities, Christian leaders and Muslim leaders.
The purpose of the visit was to carry a message of peace as Archbishop Ranjith said at his various meetings. He said he hoped the situation of good relations and calm would continue thanks to commitment on the part of civil and religious leaders and that the wounds caused by inter-religious clashes in the past between local Protestants and Muslims would gradually heal and the spirit of reconciliation for the good of all would prevail.
This pre-Christmas visit by Archbishop Ranjith found eastern Indonesia, the Moluccas and Sulawesi in particular, in a situation of latent tension. People fear a new outbreak of violence as in 1999 and 2002 when conflict was sparked by provocateurs from outside intent on destabilising the country.
Local Church sources say recent violent events make people fearful: decapitation of three Christian school girls in Poso (Sulawesi); another Christian girls murdered with a machete in Palu (Sulawesi); armed attack in Palu, on a Christian couple as they were leaving a church; a bomb explosion near a church in Ambon.
In view of festivities for Christmas and New Year police in the Moluccas are on the alert for possible acts of terrorism Security measures to prevent infiltration of terrorists have been intensified. (Agenzia Fides 12/12/2005 righe: 27 Parole: 272)
