Indonesian has officially become the 57th language of Vatican News, marking a significant milestone in the Church’s global communication mission and opening new pathways for millions of faithful to access the Pope’s message in their mother tongue.
The historic development was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Dicastery for Communication of the Holy See and the Commission for Social Communications of the Bishops’ Conference of Indonesia (KWI).
The agreement was signed on March 25 at the headquarters of Vatican News and Vatican Radio in Rome, in the presence of Church leaders, Indonesian delegates, and diplomatic representatives.
Bishop Agustinus Tri Budi Utomo, chairman of the KWI Commission for Social Communications, described the moment as “a celebration of an enduring friendship, a recognition of our national identity, and a strengthening of the bridge of faith between Indonesia and the heart of the universal Church.”
He emphasized that the initiative offers Indonesian Catholics a direct channel to access the life and teachings of the universal Church. “This is a modern proclamation of the Good News,” he said, noting that Catholics in Indonesia and neighboring Malaysia can now hear the voice of the Holy Father in their own language.
Officials from the Vatican also highlighted the broader pastoral significance of the agreement. Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, along with Editorial Director Andrea Tornielli and Deputy Editorial Director Massimiliano Menichetti, underscored that communicating in one’s mother tongue is essential for authentic evangelization and inclusion.
They noted that the addition of Indonesian will promote inclusivity, strengthen pastoral communication, and deepen the connection between the Vatican and local communities. It also ensures that messages of peace, fraternity, and dialogue are conveyed within the rich cultural context of Indonesia.
The Ambassador of Indonesia to the Holy See, Michael Trias Kuncahyono, welcomed the agreement as “a historic moment” for both the nation and its Catholic community.
He stressed that the initiative is the fruit of a long journey of collaboration and expressed hope for continued commitment in developing the platform through adequate resources and technological support.
The inclusion of Indonesian in Vatican News is the result of sustained efforts that began in June 2022, when members of the Paguyuban Wartawan Katolik Indonesia (PWKI) first proposed the idea.
With Indonesian now part of its multilingual platform, Vatican News continues to expand its mission of reaching people across cultures and languages. The addition is expected to enhance dialogue, promote mutual understanding, and encourage a shared commitment to peace and human fraternity.
As the Church embraces digital communication in an increasingly interconnected world, this milestone stands as a testament to the power of language in bringing people closer to the Gospel, and to one another.
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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