TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The leader of the Indonesian Bishops' Conference (KWI), Monsignor Antonius Subianto Bunjamin, said that the group of bishops had written a letter to Pope Leo XIV. Antonius said that the KWI rejoiced over the election of the US-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the supreme leader of the Catholic Church.
"Today, we wrote a letter of gratitude and proficiat, and reminded him that he had visited Indonesia as the Superior General," said Anton at the KWI Building in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Saturday, May 10, 2025, referring to the new pope's visit to Sorong, Papua as the leader of the Order of Saint Augustine in 2003.
"Who knows, with his generosity, he will one day visit Indonesia as the Pope," he added.
Anton mentioned that the American Cardinal who chose the papal name Leo was a reflection of his predecessor, the late Pope Francis. "It is as if this is the younger counterpart of Pope Francis, with a simple life, full of compassion, a holy life, and the dedication that manifests within Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost," said Anton.
He considered the choice of the papal name Leo to be significant because it refers to Pope Leo XIII, the author of the encyclical Rerum Novarum in May 1891. This document marked the beginning of the modern social doctrine of the Catholic Church.
Anton said that all the current social teachings of the Church, including those of the late Pope Francis, are based on this encyclical. "So I suppose, he wants to continue the pastoral work of embodying Pope Francis with the innovation of Pope Leo XIII," he said.
Anton is optimistic that Pope Leo XIV will continue the journey Pope Francis has embarked on in his 12-year papacy. "Even intensified with extraordinary energy because Pope Leo is much younger than Pope Francis," said Anton.
With the election of Cardinal Prevost, Anton hopes that the Catholic Church will be more enthusiastic in voicing the prophetic call to realize world peace and defending the poor, the weak, and the suffering.
Meanwhile, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost from Chicago, Illinois, was elected as the highest leader of the Catholic church through a conclave procession that began on May 7, 2025. The 69-year-old cardinal is the 267th pope and the first pope from the United States to lead the Holy See.
The election of Cardinal Robert Prevost was officially announced by Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti from the balcony of the Sistine Chapel, Vatican City, on Thursday, May 8, 2025, local time.
In his announcement, Mamberti stated, "I announce to you a great joy. We have a Pope: The Most Eminent and Most Reverend Lord, Robert Francis, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church Prevost, who has taken the name Pope Leo XIV."
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