Soft-spoken, thoughtful, and deeply rooted in faith, Cardinal Suharyo Ignatius has quietly reshaped the Archdiocese of Jakarta into a model of compassionate Catholicism in Indonesia.
Known for his humility and unwavering commitment to social justice, the 74-year-old archbishop has long emphasized a vision of Church leadership grounded in compassion, accountability, and solidarity.
A defining feature of Cardinal Suharyo’s pastoral leadership is his consistent call to embody “compassio”—a Latin word for compassion, which he introduced to Indonesian Catholics as a moral and social imperative. “We care, we show sympathy, and eventually we show compassion—helping and assisting those who truly need it,” the Cardinal said, underscoring his message that faith must translate into action.
Each year, he releases a new pastoral theme to guide the archdiocese’s spiritual and social direction. The phrase “Faith, Fraternity, Compassio” became one of his most influential taglines, eventually adopted as the official theme for Pope Francis’ Asia-Oceania pastoral visit in 2024. Originally proposed by Cardinal Suharyo when the trip was planned for 2022, the theme was reaffirmed when the rescheduled visit was confirmed. “Faith, Fraternity, Compassio” thus gained recognition not only in Jakarta but throughout the global Church.
Cardinal Suharyo’s push for practical compassion is perhaps best embodied in the Archdiocese of Jakarta’s humanitarian initiative, Berkhat Santo Yusup (BKSY), launched in 2013. Designed in partnership with alumni of the Mertoyudan Minor Seminary, the program offers low-cost hospitalization and funeral support to the faithful. “BKSY is a new pastoral movement in the Archdiocese of Jakarta. It is expected to be one option for the faithful to practice compassion,” said Kasyanto, the program’s operational manager. “The Church must stand with the sick and the dying, ensuring their human dignity is respected and honoured.”
But for Cardinal Suharyo, compassion must also be community-driven. On May 1, during a meeting with laborers at the ASG Shelter in Pasar Kemis, he praised grassroots efforts by Catholics to serve others. “I like to call these initiatives new paths, where the principle of subsidiarity is realized in practice,” the Cardinal told LiCAS News. “If small groups or even individuals in the Catholic community can design social programs, the archdiocese will support them and help find resources so those programs can operate and last.”
He emphasized that such initiatives do not require prior approval from the archdiocese. “As long as these programs are good and aimed at charity, and as long as I remain Archbishop of Jakarta, every diocesan institution will support them,” he affirmed.
The Cardinal’s support extends to scholarship efforts like the Yayasan Karsa Cipta Asa (YKCA) Foundation, which funds educational opportunities for young Catholics from remote areas. “The Cardinal even personally donate this noble mission,” said Royani Lim, a YKCA supervisory board member.
Through the archdiocese’s social service arm, Lembaga Daya Dharma (LDD), Cardinal Suharyo continues to encourage parishes to develop localized programs that build social solidarity, with many already in full operation across Jakarta.
Born in Central Java, Cardinal Suharyo has served as Archbishop of Jakarta since 2010, following a 13-year tenure in Semarang. He also led the Bishops’ Conference of Indonesia (KWI) for a decade. A professor of Biblical Theology and long-time seminary formator, he is remembered for his simplicity, respectful demeanor, and devotion to integrity—especially in financial management. “I felt honoured to be involved in auditing processes at diocesan and KWI institutions,” said Mrs. Fransika Nelwan Mok, a finance executive and former state bank director.
His surprise elevation to the cardinalate in September 2019 came without prior notice. “I only found out from the media and became sure after the Apostolic Nuncio to Indonesia, Archbishop Piero Pioppo, confirmed the appointment,” he once shared.
As Cardinal Suharyo nears his 75th birthday in July 2025—the age at which bishops traditionally submit their resignation—the Indonesian Church awaits whether Pope Francis will ask him to continue his quiet but powerful ministry. For now, his legacy continues to inspire a Church that walks closely with the people—grounded in faith, fraternity, and compassion.
Mathias Hariyadi is the Founder and Chief Editor of the Indonesian Catholic media platform Sesawi.net. He also serves as the Indonesian correspondent for AsiaNews.it and Fides.org, and contributes to LiCAS News on issues concerning the Church in Indonesia.”
