Indonesia

Archbishop Petrus Canisius Mandagi weighs in on the criticisms of the Catholic Church contained in the documentary denouncing national strategic projects launched by the Indonesian government in South Papua. “The accusations against me and the archdiocese are entirely baseless,” the prelate says. For years, the Church has struggled “to uphold the dignity of Papuans” with “schools, healthcare, agricultural programmes, livestock farms, credit unions” in some of the remotest areas.

President Prabowo wants to centralise all exports of coal, palm oil and other strategic raw materials through Danantara Indonesia. The measure, justified as an application of Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution, aims to halt capital flight and price manipulation, according to the former general, but has already sparked serious concerns among business leaders and financial markets.

The 75th anniversary of Caritas Internationalis and the 20th anniversary of the solidarity foundation promoted by the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference were marked on the island of Flores with a Mass and a gathering presided over by Cardinal Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi. In the spirit of the encyclical “Laudato Si’”, the gathering brought together local farmers involved in the Harvest Programme, which aims to build independent and sustainable communities.

A new report highlights coordinated online campaigns against voices critical of the government, whether media outlets or NGOs, following Prabowo Subianto’s accession to the presidency. Accounts linked to the military have spread accusations of being “foreign agents”, with consequences including violence, whilst major social media platforms have refrained from intervening.

The blast occurred in the courtyard of St Paul's Church, Intan Jaya Regency, shortly after Sunday Mass. The injured are all civilians from the local community. Indonesian authorities have not yet clarified the origin of the device, delivered by a drone, nor identified those responsible. Meanwhile, fighting between separatists and Indonesian forces intensifies.

Directed by two young filmmakers, the documentary reveals how slogans such as “food security” and “energy transition” mask colonial exploitation, against which local indigenous communities have already erected hundreds of crosses in protest. Screenings and debates have been forcibly disrupted even in various Indonesian cultural institutions. But ‘the case’ is sparking growing public interest.

Labour Day celebrations across Asia were dominated by the impact of the Gulf crisis on local economies. Prabowo also announced new regulations strengthening protections for delivery riders. In Singapore, Prime Minister Wong urged the public to prepare for prolonged economic hardship. In Sri Lanka, celebrations were organised by the Christian Workers’ Fellowship.

A solemn celebration led by Cardinal Suharyo commemorated the solemn consecration that took place in 1901. The large neo-Gothic church designed by architect Father Antonius Dijkmans, SJ, was recognised as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 2018. “Caring for creation, cultivating faith" is the motto that sums up the spirit of the anniversary.

This year, the major pilgrimage to Makkah is set for 24-29 May. The desire to participate outweighs the fear of war, although concerns remain about rising prices, last-minute cancellations, and delayed return journeys. Saudi Arabia is using artificial intelligence to manage security and monitor pilgrims. Two million people are expected to participate.

Almost €1.4 million was stolen from the accounts of the faithful of the parish of St Francis of Assisi in Aek Nabara. For weeks, the nun fought for the return of the money stolen by a former bank employee, who subsequently fled to Australia and was arrested. The bank’s senior management offered “sincere apologies” to the country’s Catholics.

An Italian priest of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, who died aged 83 in North Kalimantan, he dedicated almost 50 years to the local people, even taking the name Wan Abung. He used to say: “My mission is to cherish the history and the places of the people I serve, gathering the seeds of the Word already present and sowing further seeds of truth to contribute to human growth.”

A distinguished scholar of philosophy and a mentor to religious and lay leaders, he died in the Netherlands at the age of 87, having spent over 50 years serving the Church in Indonesia. Among his legacies is a foundation that cares for orphans in Jayapura.