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Herald Malaysia
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Indonesia's Papuans pin their hope on new pope
Prevost visited Papua in 2003 as the head of the Order of St. Augustine May 13, 2025 Father Robert Francis Prevost (now Pope Leo XIV) is seen with nuns during his visit Indonesia's Papua region in 2003. (Photo supplied) JAKARTA: People in Indonesia's Christian-majority, strife-torn Papua expressed hope that newly elected Pope Leo XIV, who visited the region twenty years ago, will pay attention to their ongoing plight and challenges. The optimism sparked after Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected the successor of late Pope Francis in the Vatican on May 8, becoming the first pope from the United States. Following the election, several photos from his visit to Papua in 2003 have been widely shared on social media sites, triggering enthusiastic reactions from Papuan netizens. One photo shows Father Prevost posing for a photo with several nuns, another shows he is eating a Papuan dish called papeda and talking to native Papuans. Prevost visited Papua as the head of the Order of St. Augustine (OSA) to join the 50th anniversary of the order's arrival in the region. Over the past decades, the order has been involved in various social services including running seminaries and schools. Opportunity to end conflict About 85 percent of Papua's estimated 4.3 million people are Christians including 70 percent Protestants. The easternmost region has been a hotbed of conflict between insurgent groups fighting for independence and Indonesian military since the 1960s when Indonesia tacitly annexed Papua after it declared independence after the end of Dutch colonial rule. A consequent referendum on independence was widely considered rigged in favor of Indonesia. Decades of conflict left thousands of people dead, injured and displaced, making Papua one of the poorest regions despite being rich in mineral resources, including one of the world's largest gold mines, according to rights groups. On online and offline, Papuans expressed optimism that the new pope's experience and understanding of Papua will allow him to pay attention to their problems. Activists, church circles, and academics have often called for dialogue between Jakarta and Papua as an effort to end the conflict. During Pope Francis' visit to Jakarta in September last year, Papuans expressed their concern by carrying out the 'Way of the Cross' rally. Bishop-elect Bernardus Bofitwos Baru of Timika, who will be ordained on May 15, says the new pope is aware of challenges Papuans face every day because he knows the ground situation from Augustinian members 'Pope Leo XIV has the opportunity to help reduce the conflict in Papua with his position as the highest leader of the Catholic Church,' Baru told UCA News. He said that the new pope's emphasis on ending war and the need for dialogue is encouraging for Papuans. "Because the pope already knows the situation, he is expected to invite the government, invite all parties in Indonesia to sit down and talk about the Papua problem, and resolve it through dialogue," he said. Catholic priest Stevanus Alo said that although Prevost's visit to Papua in 2003 was only for a few days, he believes that he has not forgotten "the atmosphere of people's lives and also the context in Papua." The principal of Villanova Catholic High School Manokwari hopes that Pope Leo XIV will return to Papua and talk about peace so that "violence with all kinds of weapons can be overcome and reduced." Another priest Father Abuna Markus Mala said the pope's first statement affirmed that the Church could be 'a bridge for peace and dialogue in Papua.' "Hopefully with this new pope, the dream for Jakarta-Papua dialogue to resolve the Papua problem will soon be realized," he said. Social activist and Catholic Soleman Itlay says he hopes the new pope will bring an end to negligence on Papuan Church by the Church hierarchy that ignore their suffering. "We are waiting for God's miracle to appear on Our land. Your Holiness deserves to be chosen by God to build dialogue and world peace with compassion," he
Herald Malaysia
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Indigenous Papuans look to the new pope with hopes
For decades, the plight of Papuan people has been ignored by the Church hierarchy and international community May 12, 2025 A woman greets Pope Francis during the pontiff's visit to Vanimo in Papua New Guinea on Sept. 8, 2024. (Photo: Vatican Media) By Ryan Dagur Pope Francis did not visit the Christian-majority region of Papua during his Asia tour last September; however, his concerns and gestures regarding the plight of Papuans have provided them with a renewed perspective on the Church. The first Jesuit and the first Latin American pope, during his 12-year papacy, achieved something that no other pope has done for the Papuans, the Christian-majority indigenous people of the western half of New Guinea Island, which is part of Indonesia. Pope Francis became popular among Papuans as they began to see him as a champion for the cause of poor, marginalized, and oppressed people like them worldwide. They expect the next pope to follow in his footsteps. Papuans expect the next pope to build on Pope Francis' two actions, which have left an indelible mark on their conflict-torn region, regarded as the most underdeveloped part of Indonesia. In a historic first, Francis appointed two native Papuan priests as bishops — Yanuarius Teofilus Matopai You of Jayapura in 2022 and Bernardus Bofitwos Baru of Timika — just two months before his death. The appointments followed years of demand for native bishops in the region, where the Catholic faith arrived more than a century ago. The demand has grown louder in recent years, as many Papuan Catholics feel that their bishops from other parts of Indonesia, and even the Vatican, do not care enough about their aspirations, plight, and challenges. Most Indonesian bishops assigned to Papua have remained silent about human rights violations and social injustices in light of the Indonesian government's apparent disregard for Papuans' rights. The violations are linked to the government's efforts to suppress the Free Papua Movement, which has persisted in the region since the 1960s and advocates for self-determination. Baru, a leading rights activist advocating for an end to violence between security forces and armed rebels in Papua, is scheduled to be ordained as bishop on May 15. The Papuans felt abandoned as the local Church hierarchy, based in the Indonesian capital, consistently aligned with the government. "The official stance of the Catholic Church on the Papua issue is very clear, namely to support the government's stance, because it is guaranteed by international law," the hierarchy's de facto head, Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo of Jakarta, said once. A recent example is Archbishop Petrus Canisius Mandagi of Merauke supporting the controversial state-backed food projects in southern Papua, despite the Papuans' rejection of the initiative. The projects reportedly aim to seize land from Indigenous people, including members of the archdiocese. Francis' visit to Asia last September marked a second defining moment for Papuans and offers lessons for the Indonesian hierarchy and the heads of the Vatican bureaus. Many Papuans believe that Francis expressed his love for the indigenous people by visiting Vanimo in Papua New Guinea, just across the border from Indonesian Papua. This visit enabled many Papuans to cross the border to see the pope. Francis' visit to Indonesia did not include a stopover in Papua or even mention Papua, apparently due to the insistence of Indonesian bishops, who did not want to upset the government. Papuans who could not afford the flight to Jakarta to see the pope found Vanimo to be the closest place where they could meet him. He chose Vanimo to feel the pulse of the Papuans. He also did not upset the Muslim-majority Indonesia, where he was widely popular for fostering Christian-Muslim harmony, a hallmark of his pontificate. Francis proved that church leaders can find ways to understand and communicate with their marginalized communities, even if exploitative systems attempt to block them. The tragedy is that Indonesian bishops remain confined within their narrow nationalistic views, which prevent them from recognizing Papuans as equal individuals and Christians deserving of dignity and rights. The Papuan Church, which has long been dominated by Indonesian clergy, has done little to protest the state's exploitation of this resource-rich region's forests and minerals, disregarding the fundamental rights of Papuans to live on their land. Just as Francis stood for the rights and dignity of the poor and oppressed, the new leader of the Church has a responsibility to confront the timidity of the Indonesian hierarchy, who believe that supporting the oppressed would make them targets of the state. The Vatican must also support the two native Papuan bishops in representing their Papuan Catholics without permitting them to be overshadowed by the other 36 non-Papuan bishops in the
Shafaq News
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Solemn tributes: Erbil's Christians honor Pope Francis
Shafaq News/ A memorial prayer for the late Pope Francis was held on Friday at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Ankawa, Erbil's Christian-majority district. The ceremony brought together various Christian denominations, including Assyrians and Chaldeans, and was led by Archbishop Bashar Matti. Worshippers gathered in a solemn atmosphere to honor the head of the Catholic Church, regarded by Catholics as the successor of Saint Peter and the supreme spiritual leader of the global Church. Earlier, a similar memorial mass took place at St. Joseph's Chaldean Church in Baghdad, where clergy and congregants prayed beneath a portrait of the late pope placed alongside the Iraqi flag—a tribute to his 2021 visit to Iraq. Pope Francis passed away on April 21 after months of illness. He had been hospitalized several times and died in his apartment at the Vatican.
The National
22-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Iraqis reflect on Pope Francis's historic visit to comfort Christians and promote peace
World leaders send condolences after Pope's death The death of Pope Francis means the passing of a steadfast friend to Iraq's Christian community. For them, his historic visit to the country was a message that they were not alone. On Tuesday, the news was at the forefront of the minds of parishioners gathering for morning mass at Mar Youssef Cathedral in Ankawa, a Christian-majority suburb of Erbil, the capital of Iraq's Kurdish region. 'He was a very good pope. We pray for him. He is in heaven,' Faiza Marcus, who was wearing a sombre black mantilla on her head, told The National. Pope Francis died on Monday at the age of 88 after a 12-year papacy. He was admitted to hospital with double pneumonia in February, but continued to work as he recovered. The day before his death, he briefly appeared at Easter services at St Peter's Basilica and greeted the crowd from his popemobile. A major part of his legacy is his three-day visit to Iraq in March 2021, when he became the first leader of the Catholic Church to visit the country. Iraq's Christians have a particular bond with Pope Francis, Archbishop Nathanael Nizar Semaan of the Syriac Catholic Church told The National. 'We never expected to see the Holy Father in Iraq, but it was a courageous gesture for him to come. It gave us hope for the future,' he said. During the trip, Pope Francis visited Baghdad and the ancient site of Ur. In Erbil, he said mass in a football stadium for a crowd of thousands. He also met Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani in Najaf. The high-level visit with one of Shiite Islam's most important figures reflected the Pope's commitment to interfaith dialogue, embodied in the Abu Dhabi Declaration that he co-signed with Sheikh Ahmed El Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar, in 2019. The most poignant leg of the trip was his time in the northern city of Mosul, which was a shell following its capture by ISIS in 2014. The group's brutal three-year occupation saw horrific abuses against Christians and other religious minorities and the destruction of churches and other priceless pieces of cultural heritage. The city suffered further damage during the months-long campaign to retake it. 'Today all of us raise our voices in prayer to Almighty God for all the victims of war and armed conflict,' Pope Francis said during a service amid the shattered buildings of the city's Hosh Al Bieaa, or Church Square. 'Here in Mosul, the tragic consequences of war and hostility are all too evident,' he added. Pope Francis had been determined to deliver that message, but the trip was nearly derailed by security concerns and then the Covid-19 pandemic. 'He wanted to come there to celebrate the common origin of humanity and shared responsibility,' Father Olivier Poquillon, who helped to welcome the pontiff to Mosul during the trip, told The National. 'He didn't want to stay only in the capitals, speaking with the big shots, but to share the conditions of the people. This is what Pope Francis did during his pontificate. He was a man of God, and he visited suffering humanity,' he said. Ms Marcus said she hoped that the next pope would also pay attention to Iraqi Christians like his predecessor. 'I prayed for that. Yesterday, I prayed for that,' she said. Like their counterparts around the world, Iraqi political leaders also paid tribute to the late pontiff. Former Iraqi President Barham Salih, who was in office during the 2021 visit, wrote on social media that he was 'deeply saddened by the passing of Pope Francis'. He was a 'beacon of compassion and moral courage … may his relentless pursuit of peace, justice and our common humanity endure', he added. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani sent his condolences to Iraq's Christians and emphasised the pontiff's efforts to heal divides between the country's religious communities. His meeting with Mr Al Sistani 'laid a meaningful foundation for interfaith dialogue and promoted fraternity and compassion among people of all faiths', the Prime Minister said. In total, Pope Francis took more than 45 trips. In addition to Iraq, he was the first pope to visit the United Arab Emirates, Myanmar, North Macedonia, Bahrain, and Mongolia. This dedication to carrying the message of his faith off the beaten path endeared him to people around the world. 'It was very important to … tell small communities that the Holy Church is thinking of them and to show the world that Christianity is not a closed religion,' Archbishop Nizar Semaan said. 'It is a religion that believes in dialogue.'
Hindustan Times
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Pope: After Hamas, Islamist ally Hezbollah stuns, amid Francis' last message to Mid-East Christians
Lebanon-based Hezbollah released a statement on Pope Francis who died on Apr 21. Lebanon was once a Christian-majority country but that's believed to have changed. Earlier, Gaza-based Hamas also issued a similar statement for late Pope Francis. Watch for more details.
