Despite being mineral-rich, conflict-torn Christian-majority region among the poorest and most underdeveloped provinces

Antonio da Costa, Dili – Rights groups are questioning Timor-Leste, an impoverished Asian nation, for allocating US$12 million for Pope Francis' visit next month, including US$1 million

Top leaders of Indonesia's two major Islamic organizations have expressed their enthusiasm for the upcoming visit of Pope Francis to their nation, calling it a special occasion to embol

Dioceses bordering Timor-Leste and the Indonesian government are collaborating to help Catholics attend the papal visit to the Catholic-majority Asian nation in September.

Pope Francis met on Monday with East Timorese president Jose Manuel Ramos-Horta in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace.

Church officials in Timor-Leste have dismissed a media report on the abusive treatment of students and substandard food in a seminary as false, terming it an attempt to tarnish the imag

A senior Vatican official in Timor-Leste has lauded the government's commitment to providing annual financial assistance to the Catholic Church, calling it a long-term investment in peo

Jayapura, Jubi – It was 128 years ago when Catholicism entered Papua in Skuru, Fak-Fak.

Siktus Harson – After years of prayerful waiting, Catholics in Indonesia's Papua finally have what they want – a bishop from their own ranks.

Katharina Reny Lestari – Sacred Heart Archbishop Petrus Canisius Mandagi of Merauke in Indonesia's South Papua province says he has personally invited Pope Francis to visit his archdioc

Ryan Dagur – The Vatican has opened a new embassy in Timor-Leste capital Dili in an effort to strengthen ties with the Catholic-majority tiny Southeast Asian nation.

Thousands of people in Timor-Leste lined the streets of the capital Dili to welcome the Catholic-majority nation's first on Sept. 5.

The people of Timor-Leste rejoiced at the inauguration of Salesian Cardinal Dom Virgilio do Carmo da Silva, the first cardinal for the tiny Catholic-majority country.

Ryan Dagur – Timor-Leste's Baucau Diocese has apologized for the controversial decision by a local parish to impose a heavy fee for issuing baptismal certificates.

Katharina Reny Lestari – A newly installed archbishop has vowed to prioritize education, healthcare and peace in Indonesia's Christian-majority Papua region which suffers from illiterac

Waropen, Jubi – Chair of the Synod of the Kingmi Church (GKI) in Papua Rev. Tilas Mom said the church was the last line of defense to unite Indigenous Papuans (OAP) in Papua.

Jayapura, Jubi – Interfaith leaders in Papua gathered to discuss the "Challenges and the Role of Religions in the Struggle to Build Peace in Papua" in Jayapura City on Tuesday, July 5,

Thousands of Timor-Leste Catholics lined the streets of capital Dili to observe the feast of Corpus Christi in a solemn procession of the Blessed Sacrament.

Pat Walsh – Pope Francis recently announced that on 27 August 2022 he would make the archbishop of Dili, Dom Virgilio do Carmo da Costa, a cardinal.

Jayapura, Jubi TV – Coordinator of the Papua Peace Network (JDP) Pastor John Bunai says that reconciliation is an option for a Papuan recovery movement.

Ryan Dagur – Timor-Leste is celebrating the appointment of Archbishop Dom Virgilio do Carmo da Silva of Dili as the Catholic-majority country's first-ever cardinal.

Ryan Dagur, Jakarta – The Timor-Leste government and the bishops' conference have renewed a cooperation agreement that extends a concordat stipulation between the Catholic majority coun

Ryan Dagur, Jakarta – Timor-Leste president-elect Jose Ramos-Horta said he would work closely with the Catholic Church and acknowledged the important role of various parties, including

Ryan Dagur, Jakarta – Timor-Leste is mourning the death of a Portuguese Jesuit priest who served in the country for more than four decades and was credited with helping people in need d

Ryan Dagur, Jakarta – Pope Francis' planned visit to Catholic-majority Timor-Leste has been confirmed for this year, according to a senior official in the Catholic-majority nation's apo

Siktus HarsonSiktus Harson, Jakarta – The people of Papua have become disenchanted over a lack of action among Catholic leaders amid the hardships they are facing.

A video showing church leaders in Mimika, Papua burning masks and declaring they do not believe in COVID-19 and its vaccines are making national headlines in Indonesia, but a local offi

Ryan Dagur, Jakarta – Pope Francis hopes to visit Timor-Leste next year, according to a senior official at the Catholic-majority country's apostolic nunciature.

Justin L. Wejak – Archbishop Petrus Canisius Mandagi of Merauke recently requested a papal visit to Indonesia's easternmost region of Papua.

Ans K in Merauke, Papua – Mama Elisabeth Ndiwaen, one of the Papuan landowners who has been strongly critical of highlighting oil palm investment in Merauke regency in Papua province ha

All five bishops serving in Indonesia's Papua and West Papua provinces have come under fire from indigenous Papuan Catholics for "staying silent" over alleged social injustices.

Christian leaders from the Guild of Papuan Churches have rallied against growing radicalism in Indonesia which they claim has penetrated the Christian-majority region.

Benny Mawel, Jayapura – A Catholic bishop in Indonesia's Papua province has criticized a plan by local authorities in Jayapura to build "the world's tallest statue of Jesus," calling the move a was

Thomas Ora, Dili – Timor-Leste's Dili Diocese has declared 2017 as the Year of the Bible to boost people's faith and understanding of the Gospel as the main source of Christian life.

Thomas Ora, Dili – In a sign of how much influence the Catholic Church retains in Timor-Leste all eight presidential candidates together with 5,000 people, joined a prayer rally in Dili to mark the

Benny Mawel, Jayapura – Indonesian Catholic students have called on the government to listen to the grievances of the people of Papua and resolve longstanding conflicts.

Dylan Amirio, Dili, Timor Leste – Timor Leste is probably not on the average list when it comes to destinations for spiritual tourism, or even tourism in general.

Thomas Ora, Dili – The church in Timor-Leste honored long-married couples on Pentecost Sunday with a reminder that strong Christian families are built upon prayer, good communication, fidelity and

Cypri Jehan Paju Dale, Jakarta, Indonesia – Indonesian Father John Djonga has continually found himself in trouble with security forces in West Papua.

Benny Mawel, Jayapura, Indonesia – Dozens of young Catholics in West Papua protested in the provincial capital Manokwari March 2, demanding that police stop harassing an activist priest recently qu

Thomas Ora, Timor Leste – Pope Francis has appointed Salesian Father Virgilio do Carmo da Silva, the provincial superior of the Timor-Leste province, as the new bishop of Dili, replacing Bishop Alb

Rome – Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin was given a joyful welcome upon his arrival to East Timor.

Jayapura, Jubi – – The church has demanded Papua Police to remove the Jayapura deputy police chief (Wakapolres) be fired over a raid carried out by dozens of officers around the Kingmi Church in Do

Ina Parlina and Nethy Dharma Somba, Jakarta/Jayapura – In an effort to further establish peace after last week's Tolikara incident in Papua, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo hosted religious leaders

Siteri Sauvakacolo – Support for the indigenous people of West Papua continues to gather momentum.

Nethy Dharma Somba and Margareth S.

Paulina Quintao – Catholic priests and nuns are refusing to baptise children born of incest, according to Timor-Leste Women's Communication Forum (FOKUPERS) shelter home coordinator Jud

Jayapura – Two vocal church leaders in Papua, Rev Socratez Sofyan Yoman and Dr Beny Giai held a meeting with the Dutch ambassador, Tjeerd de Zwaan, on Tuesday.

Arientha Primanita – The government has vowed to improve the infrastructure and welfare of the people of Papua, but stopped short of committing to an all-inclusive dialogue to address t

Jakarta – A politician asks the central government to grant Papuan people requests as long as the easternmost island stays within the Republic.