TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Pope Leo XIV, the newly elected 267th leader of the Catholic Church, has a special connection to Papua. Before ascending to the Holy See, the American-born pope—whose birth name is Robert Francis Prevost—set foot in Papua back in 2003.
At the time, Prevost was serving as the Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA). His visit was part of the celebration marking the anniversary of the OSA’s ministry in Papua, during which he toured various areas from the Diocese of Sorong to Jayapura. He even traveled to remote locations to meet directly with Augustinian communities in the interior.
“Not only in the cities, because he also went to the remote areas. We have parishes in isolated regions,” said Bishop of Timika OSA, Bernardus Bofitwos Baru, when interviewed by Tempo on Friday, May 9, 2025.
Bernardus recalled that during the visit more than two decades ago, Robert Prevost took time to listen to the struggles and challenges faced by Augustinian priests in Papua. He also gained a deep understanding of the region’s complex conditions, which continue to be marked by conflict and instability to this day.
“He understood those issues and certainly offered support for us Augustinians to continue our mission of helping the community,” he said.
According to Bernardus, Pope Leo XIV is known as a person who prefers listening over speaking. He emphasized that the Pope’s concern for Papua is not merely ceremonial but sincere and enduring, even after assuming the highest position in the global Catholic Church.
The armed conflict in Papua is a matter Bernardus has frequently reported during international OSA meetings. He believes Pope Leo XIV has both the capacity and empathy to play a key role in encouraging peaceful resolutions in the region.
“The issue in Papua isn’t just political—it’s a humanitarian and ecological crisis. We hope he can act as a bridge for dialogue to unite all parties,” Bernardus stated.
He further expressed hope that Pope Leo XIV would urge the Indonesian government and policy-makers to listen to the voices of the Church in Papua. “To sit together in humility and stand as equals to discuss and resolve the issues with love, peace, and justice,” he concluded.
