People in Indonesia's Christian-majority, strife-torn Papua expressed hope that newly elected Pope Leo XIV, who visited the region twenty years ago, will pay attention to their ongoing plight and challenges.
The optimism sparked after Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected the successor of late Pope Francis in the Vatican on May 8, becoming the first pope from the United States.
Following the election, several photos from his visit to Papua in 2003 have been widely shared on social media sites, triggering enthusiastic reactions from Papuan netizens.
One photo shows Father Prevost posing for a photo with several nuns, another shows he is eating a Papuan dish called papeda and talking to native Papuans.
Prevost visited Papua as the head of the Order of St. Augustine (OSA) to join the 50th anniversary of the order's arrival in the region. Over the past decades, the order has been involved in various social services including running seminaries and schools.
Opportunity to end conflict
About 85 percent of Papua's estimated 4.3 million people are Christians including 70 percent Protestants.
The easternmost region has been a hotbed of conflict between insurgent groups fighting for independence and Indonesian military since the 1960s when Indonesia tacitly annexed Papua after it declared independence after the end of Dutch colonial rule.
A consequent referendum on independence was widely considered rigged in favor of Indonesia.
Decades of conflict left thousands of people dead, injured and displaced, making Papua one of the poorest regions despite being rich in mineral resources, including one of the world's largest gold mines, according to rights groups.
On online and offline, Papuans expressed optimism that the new pope's experience and understanding of Papua will allow him to pay attention to their problems.
Activists, church circles, and academics have often called for dialogue between Jakarta and Papua as an effort to end the conflict.
During Pope Francis' visit to Jakarta in September last year, Papuans expressed their concern by carrying out the 'Way of the Cross' rally.
Bishop-elect Bernardus Bofitwos Baru of Timika, who will be ordained on May 15, says the new pope is aware of challenges Papuans face every day because he knows the ground situation from Augustinian members
"Pope Leo XIV has the opportunity to help reduce the conflict in Papua with his position as the highest leader of the Catholic Church," Baru told UCA News.
He said that the new pope's emphasis on ending war and the need for dialogue is encouraging for Papuans.
"Because the pope already knows the situation, he is expected to invite the government, invite all parties in
Indonesia to sit down and talk about the Papua problem, and resolve it through dialogue," he said.
Catholic priest Stevanus Alo said that although Prevost's visit to Papua in 2003 was only for a few days, he believes that he has not forgotten "the atmosphere of people's lives and also the context in Papua."
The principal of Villanova Catholic High School Manokwari hopes that Pope Leo XIV will return to Papua and talk about peace so that "violence with all kinds of weapons can be overcome and reduced."
Another priest Father Abuna Markus Mala said the pope's first statement affirmed that the Church could be "a bridge for peace and dialogue in Papua."
"Hopefully with this new pope, the dream for Jakarta-Papua dialogue to resolve the Papua problem will soon be realized," he said.
Social activist and Catholic Soleman Itlay says he hopes the new pope will bring an end to negligence on Papuan Church by the Church hierarchy that ignore their suffering.
"We are waiting for God's miracle to appear on Our land. Your Holiness deserves to be chosen by God to build dialogue and world peace with compassion," he said.
Source: https://www.ucanews.com/news/indonesias-papuans-pin-their-hope-on-new-pope/10897