Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo, Archbishop of Jakarta, presided over a joyful Easter Mass celebration with the Indonesian Catholic community in Rome at the Colegio del Verbo Divino on May 4, 2025.
The celebration, organized by the Ikatan Rohaniwan-Rohaniwati Indonesia Katolik di Kota Abadi Roma (IRRIKA), drew approximately 300 members of the Indonesian diaspora in Italy. The atmosphere was one of gratitude, unity, and Easter joy.
In his message, Cardinal Suharyo expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ together with fellow Indonesians under the care of the Indonesian embassies to Italy and the Holy See.
“Filled with gratitude, I am happy to celebrate Easter with fellow Indonesians here in Italy, under the care of the Indonesian embassies to Italy and the Vatican,” Cardinal Suharyo said in his Easter message. “Each time we celebrate Easter, let us become Easter people—individuals who continually renew themselves on a journey from bondage to true freedom, becoming more like the risen Christ. Happy Easter!”
The homily was delivered by Father Henricus Asodo, who reflected on the moving story of a persecuted priest in Belarus. He used the narrative as a metaphor for resilience in faith and the transformative power of God's mercy.
Drawing from the Gospel account of Peter’s threefold denial and subsequent restoration by Jesus, Fr. Asodo reminded the congregation that no matter our shortcomings, God always offers forgiveness and renews His trust in us. His message especially resonated with those in leadership and public service, urging them to face challenges with hope, humility, and love.
Father Fransiskus Subandi, SVD, chair of IRRIKA, also shared Easter greetings, encouraging everyone to spread hope.
“Let us exchange Easter greetings with those beside us. May the peace brought by the Risen Christ empower us to be people of hope—hope that transforms our own lives and shines as a light for those we serve,” he said.
The celebration was further honored by the presence of key diplomatic representatives, including H.E. Michael Trias Kuncahyono, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Holy See, and H.E. Prof. Dr. Junimart Girsang, Ambassador to the Republic of Italy, Malta, San Marino, and Cyprus. Also in attendance was the Persekutuan Oikoumene Indonesia di Italia (POdI), highlighting a strong spirit of Christian unity among Indonesians in Rome.
The Easter Mass concluded with a deep sense of spiritual renewal, fellowship, and a renewed commitment to live out the meaning of the Resurrection in daily life.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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