Vatican-Indonesia Diplomatic Relations

Translator’s note: This interview was published in HIDUP Magazine, 16th edition, April 2016

HISTORY recorded that Vatican is one of the first countries that recognize the independence of Indonesia. In 1947, Vatican established an Apostolic Delegation in Indonesia. On March 16, 1950, the Vatican began to formalize Apostolic Internuciature, so that its status became Apostolic Nunciature on December 7, 1966. Up to now, diplomatic relations between the two countries are still well-established.

Two weeks ago, Vatican’s ambassador to Indonesia Mgr Antonio Guido Filipazzi was interviewed by HIDUP. Almost for an hour, he told us about the Vatican-Indonesia diplomatic relations – and his duties as ambassador. The followings are the excerpts.

How is the Vatican-Indonesia diplomatic relations?

Vatican-Indonesia diplomatic relations has been established a long time ago. It began in 1950 when the Vatican established the Apostolic Internunciature in Indonesia. Based on my experience in Indonesia, the Holy See greatly appreciates this well-established relationship which has existed for over 60 years. Two Popes, Paul VI and John Paul II, had already visited Indonesia. Conversely, some of the Presidents of Indonesia had visited Vatican. President Soekarno even visited it four times; the last one was Megawati. This indicates that the relationship between both countries are very well-established.

I hope that President Joko Widodo will also come to Vatican to meet Pope Francis. Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin had come to Indonesia. And I think this is a positive sign of the Vatican’s attention to Indonesia.

What kind of collaboration that was built in the Vatican-Indonesia diplomatic relations?

It should be remembered that the Vatican-Indonesia diplomatic relations is different from Indonesian diplomatic relations with other countries. So too with the presence of Nunciature (Vatican Embassy) in Indonesia. Vatican-Indonesia diplomatic relations must be seen in its context, first of all it is the relationship between the Vatican as a world center of the Catholic Church and Local Church in Indonesia. Catholic Church in Indonesia is very large and the Holy See felt the need to establish a relationship with his people here. Nunciature represents The Holy See to the Catholic Church in Indonesia. In that context, diplomatic relations between the two countries was built.

In the relations between the two countries, the main focus is related to issues of the Catholic Church. Nuncio in Indonesia is more involved in the dynamics of the Catholic Church in Indonesia. This is different from other embassies with its diplomatic relations related to economic, defense, social, and political issues. Although the Vatican Embassy also pay attention to those issues, but it is always seen in the context of their relations with the Catholic Church in Indonesia, including the peace and moral issues. My task is to establish communication with the dioceses in Indonesia and inform the Holy See about the development of the Catholic Church in Indonesia.

Do the nuncio always make a report to Vatican on the Church in Indonesia?

Yes. Almost every week I send information to the Vatican Secretariat of State, especially to the department of diplomatic Affairs for the countries and to inform about the development or issues surrounding what is happening in Indonesia. Sometimes they call us to ask about something. I establish a communication with the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and the issues related to the development of interreligious dialogue in Indonesia. Regarding the work of mission and pastoral, I communicate with the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

How many times a year the nuncio go to the Vatican?

Usually I go to Italy three times a year. In addition to personal affairs, I also come to Vatican for certain affairs. Recently I came to the office of the Congregation of Divine Worship for liturgical affairs. There is also the annual schedule for the nuncio to meet privately with the Pope. During the meeting, the nuncio share the experience and duties as well as the issues that developed in his assignment place.

What is Pope Francis’ view on Indonesia?

Pope Francis gives a great attention to Indonesia. He is amazed that although Indonesia is one of the countries with the largest Moslem population in the world, its citizens are able to live side by side with other believers. In other countries people are hard to live together because of various differences, meanwhile living in harmony is possible in Indonesia. The Holy See greatly appreciates it.

The slogan “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” (Unity in Diversity) helps people to live together in spite of the difference in religions, ethnics and races. This motto is very beautiful. But this does not mean our job is over. Each day there is a problem that threats the citizens’ harmony. So efforts are necessarily needed to keep the unity from time to time.

Please tell us about your experience regarding the Catholic Church in Indonesia.

Catholic Church in Indonesia is very large; consists of 37 dioceses and a lot of religious orders who work in Indonesia. Even I cannot memorize everything. But as nuncio, I always ask the bishops about the situation of the Church which he pastored. When I visited various places I could see people’s lives directly. And also it is very easy to communicate with the bishops and the Indonesian Conference of Catholic Bishops (Konferensi Waligereja Indonesia). Especially I often communicate with the Archbishop of Jakarta, Mgr. Ignatius Suharyo through telephone, email, or also via WhatsApp.

I want to thank them for a well-established communication, because I could not possibly work optimally without the cooperation and support of the Indonesian bishops. The contribution of local Church is very important in this case.

How many dioceses have nuncio visited in Indonesia?

I have traveled from Sumatra to Papua. It has been nearly 30 dioceses that I visited. Some dioceses I already visited twice and even more, such as diocese of Sintang and the Archdiocese of Samarinda.  Even I visited Diocese of Amboina three times. Usually they have a certain celebration and invited me. If I am not busy, I will come. I came to Ambon to celebrate the 100th years anniversary of late. Mgr Andreas P. C. Sol MSC (died on March 26, 2016).

I also visited the seminaries in Indonesia, because I think the seminary is the place of formation for future leaders of Catholic Church in Indonesia. A month ago I came to seminary Ritapiret, Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara.

In the near future I will publish a collection of homilies that I gave at the places I visited. It can help me to remember my visits to various dioceses in Indonesia. Mgr Suharyo said to me, ‘This is the first time in Indonesia nuncio make a book of homilies’. I said, ‘Okay, let me be the first  nuncio in the history of nunciature in Indonesia that makes a book’.

For me the process of making the homily takes a long time. I had to learn about the place that I will visit, I had to write, and then it was translated into Indonesian, I must learn how to pronounce, and others. So I think, after a five-year assignment in Indonesia, it is better if my homilies are collected into a book.

Three dioceses in Indonesia are experiencing sede vacante (no bishop in these dioceses). Do nuncio assist the process of selecting a new bishop?

My task is to prepare candidates for a new bishop when a diocese experiencing a vacant throne. (Currently these dioceses are archdiocese of Semarang, diocese of Sintang, and the diocese of Tanjung Selor). This task is done together with the Local Church. So I cannot directly say that I know this priest and he is worthy to be a bishop. The process is sede vacante diocese proposed several potential candidates. Then I checked their profiles. If they are good then I pass it to the Holy See. The Holy Father will decide whether the proposed candidate is right or not.

Have the names proposed were rejected?

Yes. And it could happen. The Pope has complete freedom and his own consideration to appoint the priest who will become a bishop. If the designated candidate is rejected, then I must work again from the scratch. This process is very long and takes time. But this is my job.

Is is possible for Pope Francis to visit Indonesia?

I cannot say yes or no. The decision to visit Indonesia is a personal decision of the Holy Father. Each year the Pope accepts invitation to visit several countries. Last year, Cardinal Parolin had come here and of course it shows that the Pope has a great attention to Indonesia. I think the visit of Cardinal Parolin is a good occasion to convey the invitation.

Next month I will go to the Vatican and hopefully I have an opportunity to meet the Pope. When I meet Holy Father, I will convey to him about the desire of Indonesian people for his coming so that he can visit us here. But once again, I do not know whether the Pope will come to Indonesia or not.

Stefanus P. Elu