Indonesia’s Catholic Church is preparing to launch a Bahasa Indonesia service on Vatican News in June 2026, marking a major step in expanding the country’s presence in global Catholic media.
The initiative was discussed during a May 7 meeting between the Communication Commission of the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference, the Indonesian Catholic Journalists Association, and Indonesia’s Language Development and Fostering Agency under the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
Fr. Noegroho Agoeng, secretary of the bishops’ conference communication commission, described the launch as “an important step to bring the Church to the Indonesian people while also bringing Indonesia to the Universal Church.”
He said the use of Bahasa Indonesia on the Vatican’s official media platform reflects recognition of the growth of the Church in Indonesia and serves as “a means of evangelization and communication of faith that is increasingly closer to the faithful.”
Participants in the meeting also discussed plans for a celebration to mark the official launch of the service, which is expected to begin in June.
Hafidz Muksin of the government’s Language Development and Fostering Agency welcomed the initiative, describing Bahasa Indonesia as “the unifying language of the nation that holds a strategic position.”
He noted that the language has been recognized as one of UNESCO’s official languages, calling it “an important momentum to further strengthen the use of Bahasa Indonesia in various global spaces.”
The dialogue also explored the role of Indonesian missionaries abroad as potential ambassadors of Indonesian language and culture.
Participants said the initiative would require language training and the development of Indonesian-language teaching materials for international communities.
The meeting also raised concerns about declining language use among younger Indonesians, particularly in the proper use of basic terms, and stressed the media’s role in promoting responsible and proper use of Bahasa Indonesia.
