Catholic bishops in Indonesia have expressed their gratitude following the successful Apostolic Visit of Pope Francis, while also apologizing to Jakarta residents for any disruptions caused during the visit.
The Indonesian Bishops’ Conference (KWI) and the Committee for the Apostolic Visit praised the collaborative efforts that made the event possible.
“We are grateful to God for the special grace that has pleased to present the Holy Father Pope Francis in the midst of the Indonesian nation, and visit his people,” said KWI Chairman Bishop Antonius Subianto Bunjamin, OSC, in a statement.
“May his presence strengthen the brotherhood and unity of the Indonesian nation, and strengthen Bhinneka Tunggal Ika and mutual cooperation which were also conveyed by Pope Francis,” he added.
Bishop Bunjamin expressed his appreciation for the support of various groups and individuals who contributed to the Pope’s visit, acknowledging that the event relied on a broad coalition of donors, government agencies, and congregations.
He emphasized that no funding came from individual families or business entities.
“On behalf of and together with the Bishops of KWI, I would like to thank all the committees, volunteers, all liturgical and non-liturgical officers who have worked hard wholeheartedly for the past few months. Of course, thank you for the good cooperation with EO Dyandra Promosindo. Thank you also to the vendors and committee partners. May God bless you all with abundant grace,” Bishop Bunjamin said.
The committee behind the visit also thanked the Indonesian government, particularly President Joko Widodo, along with the military and police, for their logistical and security support.
The bishop further highlighted Pope Francis’ positive impression of Indonesia, noting the Pontiff’s praise for the country’s warmth and generosity. “The Holy Father was impressed that the Indonesian nation is a nation full of smiles, friendly, and generous,” Bishop Bunjamin said.
Special acknowledgment was given to religious leaders, including Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque, Prof. Nasaruddin Umar, who played a key role in welcoming Pope Francis.
The grand mass held at Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium on September 5 was one of the highlights of the visit.
Muliawan Margadana, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for the Apostolic Visit, said the event drew around 87,000 people from across the country. Due to security concerns, not all seats at the stadium were occupied, and the central green field remained unused, as it is being prepared for a World Cup qualifier match between Indonesia and Australia.
Bishop Bunjamin expressed further thanks to the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Authority and the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government, which had encouraged residents to work from home during the grand mass.
He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked behind the scenes but were not publicly recognized.
“We apologize to all parties, especially the residents of Jakarta, whose activities were disturbed, and for anything that was not pleasing during the Pope’s visit,” the bishop said.
