Catholicism in Indonesia

The first Catholic missionaries from the monastic order of the Franciscans arrived on the islands of modern Indonesia at the end of the 14th century. In 1324, on the islands of Sumatra, Java and Borneo, Odoric Pordenon was engaged in missionary activity. This activity of the Franciscans and Odorik Pordenon did not bring any significant success. The extensive missionary activity of the Catholic Church began during the colonization of the islands by the Portuguese. In 1534, Catholic missionaries began to work among the local population in the Moluccas . In the middle of the XVI century, St. Francis Xavier preached here, who stayed for more than a year. In the second half of the 16th century, Jesuits arrived on the Lesser Sunda Islands and founded several missions here. At the same time, the Dominicans arrived in the Lesser Sunda Islands and the Carmelites in Sumatra

At the beginning of the 17th century, the islands of modern Indonesia became a colony of Holland and the activity of the Catholic Church was banned. This situation continued until the French Revolution , when the Republic of Batavia was formed in Java. In 1808, Catholic missionaries from Holland arrived on the island of Java and the Holy See established the first Catholic structure of the apostolic prefecture of Batavia in this year (today the Archdiocese of Jakarta ).

From the middle of the 19th century to the 20s of the 20th century, the Dutch colonial authorities obstructed the activity of the Catholic Church. At this time, the Jesuits, despite their oppression, were engaged in missionary work. A significant role in Jesuit activity was played by the Dutch Jesuit Frans van Liet , who became the founder of the system of Catholic education in the Dutch East Indies.

In 1940 he was ordained bishop of Albert Sugiyapranath , who became the first Indonesian Catholic hierarch. Albert Sugiyapranat had personal connections with the first Indonesian President Sukarno and took an active political and humanitarian part in the struggle for independence .

In 1961, Pope John XXIII issued the bull Quod Christus , which established 25 Catholic dioceses in Indonesia.

On December 7, 1965, Pope Paul VI issued a breva Quo firmiores , which established the apostolic nunciature in Indonesia.

In October 1989, Pope John Paul II visited Indonesia with a pastoral visit.

The highest collegiate body of the Catholic Church in Indonesia is the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Indonesia , which includes all the hierarchs of church structures operating in the country. Currently, the Catholic Church in Indonesia consists of 10 archdioceses, 27 dioceses, and one military vicariate:

• Archdiocese of Ende ;
  • Diocese of Denpasar , Diocese of Larantuks , Diocese of Maumere , Diocese of Ruteng ;
• Archdiocese of Jakarta ;
  • Diocese of Bandung , Diocese of Bogor ;
• Kupang Archdiocese ;
  • Diocese of Atambua , Diocese of Veetebuly ;
• Archdiocese of Makassar ;
  • Diocese of Amboina , Diocese of Manado ;
• Archdiocese of Medan ;
  • Diocese of Padang , Diocese of Sibolga ;
• Archdiocese of Merauke ;
  • Diocese of Agats , Diocese of Jayapura , Diocese of Manokwari-Sorong , Diocese of Timika ;
• Archbishop Palembang ;
  • Diocese of Pankalpinang , Diocese of Tanjunkaran ;
• Archdiocese of Pontianak ;
  • Diocese of Ketapang , Diocese of Sangau , Diocese of Sintang ;
• Archdiocese of Samarindas ;
  • Diocese of Banjarmasin , Diocese of Palangkarai , Diocese of Tanjungselora ;
• Archdiocese of Semarang ;
  • Diocese of Malang , Diocese of Purwokerto , Diocese of Surabaya ;
• Indonesia Military Ordinariate .

• The Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 2, ed. Franciscans, M., 2005, ISBN 5-89208-054-4

• The official website of the Catholic Bishops Conference in Indonesia (indon.)
• Information

• Protestantism in Indonesia
• Orthodoxy in Indonesia