Vatican City. Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed on Monday the Holy See’s longstanding ties with Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, saying the relationship has been built on mutual respect, dialogue, and a shared commitment to peace and harmony since the country’s independence.

Speaking before 200 members of Irrika, Rehat, and the Indonesian Embassy to the Holy See community in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace, Pope Leo called the gathering historic. It marked the first time an Indonesian delegation of this size had been received by a pope and coincided with three milestones: the first anniversary of Pope Francis’s visit to Indonesia in September 2024, the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and the Holy See, and the inaugural audience for the entire staff of the Indonesian Embassy to the Holy See and their families.

Diplomatic relations were formally established on March 13, 1950, but the Holy See had already recognized Indonesia’s independence in 1947, making it the first European state to do so.

Pope Leo recalled Pope Francis’s apostolic journey to Indonesia, particularly his visit to Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque with Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar, where the Declaration of Istiqlal for human unity was signed. He praised Indonesian Catholics for preserving their traditions and solidarity despite being far from home, while underscoring the importance of interfaith dialogue in a country where Catholics represent only about 3 percent of the population.

He urged Indonesian Catholics in Rome to remain faithful to the Gospel while taking pride in their identity as Indonesians, entrusting them to the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church.

The audience was granted after a long-standing request dating back to Pope Francis’s tenure, later renewed through Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin following Francis’s death.

There are currently 1,818 Indonesian priests, nuns, and religious workers serving across Italy, most of them in Rome and Naples. They are engaged in religious missions, education, social services, and pastoral care.

Irrika traces its roots back to 1955 as the association of Indonesian priests in Rome, later expanding to include nuns across Italy. Rehat, meanwhile, is a network of Indonesian religious serving in various congregational headquarters.