ASIA/INDONESIA - Indonesian Bishops alongside the people who are suffering in Papua

Saturday, 12 December 2020 human rights solidarity humanitarian aid social services

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Jakarta (Agenzia Fides) - Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo, Archbishop of Jakarta and President of the Indonesian Catholic Bishops' Conference (KWI), confirms the full support, compassion and closeness of the Bishops for the sufferings that overwhelm the natives of Indonesian Papua. The Cardinal commented on the appeal released by 147 Catholic priests who work in Papua (see the other article by Fides, 12/12/2020). The message was also addressed to the Bishops, urging them to be proactive in dialogue and solidarity towards natives. "We have set in motion numerous initiatives to implement the attention and compassion of the Church towards the Papuans", explains Cardinal Suharyo to Agenzia Fides.
Also Mgr. Aloysius Murwito OFM, Bishop of Agats, in Papua, remarks: "In the assembly of Bishops we addressed the issue of violence in Papua, in order to fully understand the situation. There is great attention from Cardinal Suharyo and great compassion for the Papuans on behalf of all. Thanks to the solidarity effort of various dioceses across the nation, humanitarian and financial assistance initiatives are underway towards Papua in favor of education, health service and other social services: the commitment of the Indonesian Church is clear and public", said the Bishop. The Archdiocese of Jakarta, for example, has promoted the initiative known as PPKA (Panitia Pemerhati Keuskupan Agats - Agats Diocese Enthusiast Committee) which, since 2012, has provided significant assistance to the diocese of Agats. Fundraising events for Papua were regularly organized by Catholic professionals and entrepreneurs in the Archdiocese of Jakarta to help the diocese of Agats, one of the poorest dioceses in Indonesia. A comprehensive scholarship program was set up to provide Papuan native youth the opportunity to pursue nursing studies in Makassar. Bishop Murwito confirms the existence of numerous support initiatives promoted by the Indonesian Bishops for Papua, hoping that solidarity and fraternity can always characterize the life of the faithful in a vast and plural nation like Indonesia. (MH-PA) (Agenzia Fides, 12/12/2020)