Pope Leo XIV to Indonesian Community: Be Prophets of Communion and Peace

Pope Leo XIV urged Indonesians in Italy to be “prophets of communion in a world so often divided” and to live as faithful Catholics while remaining proud Indonesians. He called on them to dedicate themselves to the Gospel, build harmony within society, and continue fostering peace through interreligious dialogue.

The Pope delivered this message during a special audience with 200 members of IRRIKA, Rehat, and the extended family of the Indonesian Embassy to the Holy See, held at the Sala Clementina of the Apostolic Palace on Monday, September 22. It was the first time the groups were received together by the Pope.

IRRIKA (Ikatan Rohaniwan Rohaniwati Indonesia di Kota Abadi – Association of Indonesian Religious Men and Women in the Eternal City) traces its roots to 1955, when Indonesian priests studying in Rome formed an association called IRIKA. Over time, as more Indonesian clergy and sisters came to Italy, the group expanded and adopted its present name in 1986 to reflect the wider membership.

Rehat, which in Indonesian means “rest,” refers to Indonesian clergy and sisters serving in the generalates of religious congregations, either as leaders or staff. Some have held top positions, including Superior Generals of international congregations.

The meeting with Pope Leo marked three occasions: the first anniversary of Pope Francis’ visit to Indonesia in September 2024, the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and the Holy See, and the first audience granted to the staff of the Indonesian Embassy to the Holy See together with their families.

Formal ties between the Holy See and Indonesia were established on March 13, 1950, though the Vatican had already recognized Indonesia’s sovereignty in 1947, becoming the first European state to do so.

The Pope recalled Pope Francis’s 2024 apostolic journey to Indonesia as a milestone in strengthening this friendship. Interreligious dialogue, he said, was a key theme of that visit, especially during Pope Francis’s stop at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, where he and Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar, now Indonesia’s Minister of Religious Affairs, signed the Istiqlal Declaration for unity and peace.

“This audience is a sign of the good fruits of faith and unity,” Pope Leo XIV said, praising Indonesians for preserving their vibrant traditions and solidarity even far from home. He highlighted Indonesia’s national motto, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (“Unity in Diversity”), as a model of peaceful coexistence.

Quoting Pope Francis, he added, “Indonesian society weaves a bond of unity when bound by a common desire for the good; indeed, preserving harmony in diversity is like a work of art entrusted to each person.”

Not all members of IRRIKA were able to attend. As of September 19, 2025, there are 1,818 Indonesian religious men and women in Italy: 1,549 sisters and 269 priests or brothers. The majority (58%) reside in Lazio, followed by Campania (23%), with the rest spread across various cities, including those in Sicily and Sardinia.

They serve in missionary work, academic studies, leadership of congregations, teaching, managing homes for the elderly and orphans, and supporting the Holy See.

Concluding his address, Pope Leo XIV encouraged Indonesians to embody the words of Archbishop Albertus Soegijapranata, the first native Indonesian prelate: “One hundred percent Catholic, one hundred percent Indonesian.”

He entrusted them to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, praying that they may always be “builders of bridges among nations, cultures, and religions.”