Outgoing Apostolic Nuncio to Indonesia Archbishop Piero Pioppo praised the “vitality and joyful witness” of Indonesian Catholics, calling their faith a wellspring of inspiration for Europe’s struggling churches.
Speaking at the opening of the 5th National Assembly of the Catholic Church in Indonesia (SAGKI 2025) on November 3 in North Jakarta, the Vatican diplomat expressed gratitude for his eight years of service in the country.
“I wish to express my sincere gratitude to all the bishops of Indonesia and to the friendly and smiling faithful of this beautiful nation for their warm hospitality during my eight-year service as the Holy See’s representative in Jakarta,” Archbishop Pioppo said.
He described his mission in Indonesia as “an experience of profound joy and inspiration,” and said the encounter with the local Church’s faith and dynamism “has strengthened my spirit” as he takes on a new post as Apostolic Nuncio to Spain and Andorra.
“The vitality of the Indonesian Catholic Church—its youthful enthusiasm, deep devotion, and joyful witness—will serve as a source of inspiration for me,” he said. “These are precious gifts that I hope to share with the Church in Europe, which today is called to rediscover the freshness of faith.”
Recalling the history of evangelization, Archbishop Pioppo noted, “Spain once sent missionaries to many lands, including your beautiful country, Indonesia. Today, as the Church in Europe faces challenges of decline and secularization, I am convinced that the living faith I have encountered here can become a source of renewal and hope for Europe.”
He ended his message with a prayerful appeal: “Let us pray together during this 5th SAGKI that the Lord may continue to accompany our journey as His pilgrim people.”
Church Called to Be a Listening and Loving Community
In his opening address, Bishop Antonius Subianto Bunjamin, OSC, president of the Bishops’ Conference of Indonesia (KWI), emphasized that synodality lies at the heart of the Church’s identity and mission.
“One essential element of SAGKI is the call to be a synodal Church—a Church that listens. The young must listen to the old, and the old must listen to the young. This is the richness of diversity within the Church,” Bishop Antonius said.
At the opening Mass, he reflected that “in love, no one is excluded, unheard, or ignored. Everyone is called to participate in the mission of the Church.”
‘Journeying Together as Pilgrims of Hope’
Held from November 3 to 7, SAGKI 2025 gathered 374 delegates from 38 dioceses and the Military Ordinariate under the theme “Journeying Together as Pilgrims of Hope: Becoming a Synodal and Missionary Church for Peace.”
Bishop Antonius said the theme deepens the Church’s commitment to the ongoing global Synod’s call for communion, participation, and mission.
He cited Pope Leo XIV’s message during the Closing Mass of the Synodal Jubilee on October 26, reminding the faithful that relationships within the Church “must not be guided by the logic of power or hierarchy, but by the logic of love and the spirit of walking together.”
Listening to the Holy Spirit and the Signs of the Times
Bishop Antonius urged participants to open their hearts to the Holy Spirit in a spirit of dialogue and courage. “We cannot become a missionary, synodal Church if we remain closed to the Spirit, or if we cling to self-centered pride—thinking only of ourselves, our diocese, our island, or our region,” he warned.
He said that the journey of synodality demands “inner freedom, humility, prayer, and trust,” allowing the Church to discern God’s will together.
The assembly’s opening Mass highlighted the country’s rich cultural diversity, with delegates wearing traditional attire and offering prayers in Papuan, Manadonese, Javanese, Balinese, and Dayak languages.
Continuing the Spirit of the Istiqlal Declaration
Bishop Antonius reaffirmed the Indonesian Church’s commitment to the Istiqlal Declaration, signed by Pope Francis and Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar of Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque.
“May this SAGKI bear fruit in synodal wisdom that stands with those on the peripheries—geographically and existentially—so that together we may promote justice, peace, and human dignity through the continuing implementation of the Istiqlal Declaration,” he said.
He added that the declaration continues to guide the Church’s response to “dehumanization and ecological crises,” promoting cooperation for the integrity of creation.
A Church That Listens, Serves, and Brings Hope
Bishop Antonius expressed hope that the weeklong assembly would lead to concrete actions that strengthen the Church’s relevance in society.
“This assembly must not end as a mere formality,” he said. “It should bear fruit in decisions rooted in love and justice. May this gathering become a source of hope and peace for those who have little, who are forgotten, and who depend on our witness of faith.”
He concluded, “In this spirit, the Church is called to be present, responsive, and sensitive to the humanitarian challenges of our nation.”
With its renewed focus on listening, participation, and solidarity, SAGKI 2025 underscores the Indonesian Church’s role as a living witness of faith in a pluralistic society—one determined to bring light, unity, and hope to both the nation and the wider Church.
