8Merauke, Jubi – Merauke Archbishop Mgr. Petrus Canisius Mandagi has called on Catholics to embrace love, forgiveness and peace in responding to continuing violence in Papua, including Papua Selatan.
He delivered the appeal during his homily at a Mass marking 121 years since the Catholic Church's mission began in Papua Selatan. The celebration was held at the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue park near Mopah Airport in Merauke and attended by thousands of Catholics from Merauke Regency on Friday (Aug. 14, 2026).
In his homily, Archbishop Mandagi said he was saddened by the violence continuing to occur in Papua. He referred to recent violence in Central Papua, where several government offices were burned.
"Violence is also happening in Papua, including Papua Selatan. Recently, violence occurred in Central Papua, and government offices were burned. It is sad to see all of this," Mandagi said.
He said violence also remains a concern in Merauke, pointing to street robberies, excessive alcohol consumption and drunkenness, as well as acts of violence between individuals that suggest violence is increasingly being treated as an ordinary way of resolving problems. He questioned whether such behavior reflected the teachings of Christ.
"Is this really right? Is this the teaching of Christ, the Catholic faith? Of course not. It contradicts Christ's teaching, which is love," he said.
Mandagi said the 121st anniversary of the Catholic mission in Papua Selatan should be an opportunity for Catholics to revive the value of love in their daily lives.
"The Sacred Heart of Jesus, where we are celebrating today, reminds us of love. The heart points us toward love," he said.
He also noted that economic growth and improvements in living standards do not automatically make the world more peaceful. Instead, he said, human life continues to be marked by various forms of violence and conflict.
Mandagi therefore highlighted the late Pope Francis' message on the importance of forgiveness. He said forgiveness is a remedy capable of healing wounds and restoring peace.
"For Pope Francis, forgiveness is a medicine that heals. A person who does not forgive is a person who is wounded and has no peace," he said.
He reminded the congregation of Jesus' teaching to forgive not merely seven times, but "seventy times seven times."
Mandagi said Jesus himself had demonstrated the power of forgiveness, including by forgiving those who harmed him. He also cited Nelson Mandela and Pope John Paul II as examples of people who demonstrated forgiveness.
Mandela, he said, was able to forgive those who had tortured him during his years in prison. Pope John Paul II, meanwhile, forgave Mehmet Ali A?ca, who shot and wounded the pontiff at the Vatican in 1981.
"Those acts became symbols that violence can be replaced by love and forgiveness. The bullets of violence can be replaced by the bullets of love and forgiveness," Mandagi said.
As the Catholic mission in Papua Selatan enters its 121st year, Mandagi called on Catholics to engage in self-reflection and repentance. He invoked the principle Ecclesia semper reformanda, meaning that the Church must continually renew and reform itself.
"We are not saints. We are not people without sin. I often say that sin is something every person is capable of, but repentance is our duty," he said.
He stressed that the 121st anniversary should not be reduced to a ceremonial celebration but should bring about tangible change in the lives of Catholics and the wider community.
"The Catholic Church has been here for 121 years. We cannot remain the same. Perhaps violence is widespread and there is no forgiveness," he said.
Mandagi urged Catholics to respond to hatred with love, wrongdoing with forgiveness, despair with hope and sadness with joy.
"Where there is hatred, let me bring love. Where there is wrongdoing, let me bring the spirit of forgiveness. Where there is despair, let me bring hope. Where there is sadness, let me bring joy," he said.
He expressed hope that the 121st anniversary of the Catholic mission in Papua Selatan would become a moment for Catholics and the wider community to move away from violence and build a life grounded in love, forgiveness and peace.
Meanwhile, Merauke Regent Yoseph Bladib Gebze said the Catholic Church and the government have long been strategic partners in serving communities across Papua Selatan.
He said the 121st anniversary of the Catholic mission, coming ahead of Indonesia's 81st Independence Day, was an opportunity to reflect on the struggles of previous generations while considering the challenges facing the region today.
Gebze said missionaries had faced numerous challenges from the beginning of their work, including Dutch colonial policies, Papua Selatan's geographical conditions, inter-tribal tensions and the aftermath of World War II.
The challenges facing the current generation, however, are different. One of the main priorities, he said, is developing human resources with the knowledge and skills needed to drive development.
"Has the current generation prepared people with sufficient knowledge and capacity to continue the work of those who came before us?" he asked.
Gebze said the current generation has inherited the legacy of missionaries, teachers, nuns, brothers and priests who served communities across Papua Selatan.
He therefore said their work must continue and adapt to the challenges of the times through education, human resource development and cooperation between the Church and government.
"The history of the missionaries' work is the foundation, while the responsibility of the current generation is to build on that foundation through education, strengthening human resources, cooperation between the Church and government, and a life grounded in love and brotherhood," he said.