Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Amboina (Agenzia Fides) - Indonesia invites Pope Francis to visit the country: Minister of Religious Affairs Menag RI Yaqut Cholil Qoumas informed the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Pietro Pioppo and the Indonesian Catholic Bishops on the occasion of the episcopal ordination of the new bishop of the Diocese of Amboina, Msgr. Senno Ngutra, last April 23.
At a meeting with the nuncio, Indonesian bishops and priests at the Catholic Community Center in Ambon city center before the solemn celebration of the episcopal consecration, Menag RI informed the church officials present about his upcoming trip to the Vatican, where he delivered an official message and an invitation to the Pope
to visit Indonesia.
The Holy See had previously officially announced that Pope Francis planned to visit Indonesia and East Timor as early as September 2020, but the planned trip had to be canceled at the time due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
The minister also reported in this regard that the Indonesian government intends to launch the construction of a new cathedral church in IKN Nusantara, the new capital of Indonesia, in East Kalimantan. "We are coordinating this with the local bishop of the Archdiocese of Samarinda, Yustinus Harjosusanto", he emphasized.
In addition, the Ministry of Religious Affairs intends to reconsider the two Christian holidays, "Ascension Day" and "Easter," and the term "Isa Al Masih" is to be officially changed to the word "Christ", welcoming the requests of the Indonesian Christian community.
The new bishop of the Diocese of Amboyna, Senno Ngutra, who has been active in the past in raising interreligious awareness among young people, personally addressed the minister in his speech after his episcopal ordination and called on the government to promote social solidarity and interreligious tolerance not only through speeches, but also through effective programs and actions "to ensure a fruitful benefit in society". (MH/PA) (Agenzia Fides, 26/4/2022)
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