The Dicastery for Communication and the Commission for Social Communications of the Bishops’ Conference of Indonesia have signed a cooperation agreement to make Indonesian an official language of Vatican News.
Indonesian is now the 57th language available on Vatican News, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding agreement on Wednesday, 25 March. This agreement between Indonesian representatives and the Holy See’s Dicastery for Communication will enable more people to access the Pope’s message in their native language.
The signing ceremony took place at the headquarters of Vatican News and Vatican Radio in Rome, with delegations from the Holy See’s Dicastery for Communication, the Commission for Social Communications of the Bishops’ Conference of Indonesia, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Holy See in attendance.
Bishop Agustinus Tri Budi Utomo, Chairman of the Commission for Social Communications of the Bishops’ Conference of Indonesia (KWI), described the event as a celebration of enduring friendship, national identity recognition, and a strengthening of the connection between Indonesia and the universal Church.
Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, along with Editorial Director Andrea Tornielli and Massimiliano Menichetti, Deputy Editorial Director and head of Vatican Radio – Vatican News, emphasized that the agreement will promote inclusivity, improve pastoral communication, and deepen the connection between the Vatican and local believers.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Holy See, Mr. Michael Trias Kuncahyono, expressed his joy at the realization of this agreement, calling it a historic moment for Indonesia, especially for the nation’s Catholics. The inclusion of the Indonesian language in Vatican News will allow Indonesians to access news and information about the Pope, the Vatican, and global Church news in their own language.
This addition of a new language will facilitate greater engagement with the Church and help people worldwide to build a world based on values of peace, fraternity, and religious harmony.
