Indonesian philosopher and socio-political enthusiast Fr. FX Mudji Sutrisno SJ dies at 71

Father Fransiscus Xaverius Mudji Sutrisno SJ, an Indonesian Jesuit priest and philosopher whose influential role spanned socio-political thought, the arts, and culture, passed away on December 28, 2025, in the capital city of Jakarta. He died after a period of illness at the age of 71 and was laid to rest on December 31, at Stanislaus Girisonta College in Central Java, a Jesuit juniorate and centre for basic formation.

Born in Surakarta on August 12, 1954, Fr. Mudji celebrated his golden jubilee as a Jesuit religious in 2023. He was ordained a priest on December 30, 1982, in Yogyakarta, together with several other Jesuit deacons, by the then Archbishop of Semarang, Justinus Cardinal Darmojuwono, the first Indonesian cardinal.

His powerful influence

After completing his basic education in his hometown of Surakarta, Fr. Mudji entered Mertoyudan Minor Seminary from 1967 to 1972 and subsequently joined the Society of Jesus. He pursued advanced studies in philosophy at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and, upon earning his doctoral degree in 1988, began teaching Eastern Philosophy and Philosophy of Culture at his alma mater, Driyarkara School of Philosophy in Jakarta.

He also taught the same disciplines at several other higher education institutions, including the University of Indonesia and the Jakarta Institute of the Arts, among others. Beyond academia, he was actively involved in socio-political life, having served for a time as a member of Indonesia’s General Elections Commission (KPU), before later deciding to resign.

Fr. Mudji was a frequent presence in the mass media, both print and broadcast, writing socio-political opinion pieces and appearing as a political commentator, analyst, and art critic on national television. This public engagement led him to be widely recognized as a prominent cultural figure and political analyst, making him one of Indonesia’s most popular and respected priest-intellectuals.

Big loss for both the Jesuit Order and the Indonesian secular society

His passing has been deeply felt by many. Over the two days as his body lay in state at the chapel of Canisius College in Jakarta, thousands of mourners from diverse backgrounds, generations, and religious traditions came to pay their respects. Among them was Indonesia’s Minister of Religious Affairs, Prof. Nazaruddin Umar.

A devoted observer and practitioner of the arts and culture, the late Fr. Mudji also lived as a sketch artist and painter. He held several solo exhibitions of his sketch works in Jakarta, Bali, Yogyakarta, and Magelang.