Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto congratulated Robert Francis Prevost on his election as Pope Leo XIV, the 267th leader of the Catholic Church, and expressed hope for global peace during his papacy.
Prabowo conveyed his best wishes in a post uploaded on his official Instagram handle @presidenrepublikindonesia, which was cited in Jakarta on Wednesday.
"On behalf of the government and the people of Indonesia, I offer my sincere congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his election as the Bishop of Rome and Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church," he noted in a post featuring the Pope's image.
The president emphasized that the Catholic community in Indonesia and worldwide welcomed Prevost's ascension to the papacy as a moment of great significance.
He expressed confidence that the Pope’s moral leadership and lifelong commitment to compassion would serve as a beacon for people navigating "a time marked by global challenges."
Prabowo voiced sincere hope that Pope Leo XIV would succeed in uniting the international community in peace.
Earlier, Indonesian State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi made similar congratulatory remarks following the announcement of Pope Leo XIV as the new sovereign of the Vatican, succeeding the late Pope Francis.
"One important aspect of Pope Leo's election is his message centered on peace and social justice," Hadi noted in a statement issued on May 9.
In his first address as Pope to the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, Pope Leo XIV offered a prayer for peace and urged the faithful to foster dialogue and unity.
"Help us build bridges of dialogue and unite as one people in the world, now and forever," the Pope said from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.
The 69-year-old Pope previously served for many years in Peru. Fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and French, he was recognized for his commitment to marginalized groups and migrants -a trait highly praised by the late Pope Francis, who made him a cardinal in 2023.
In addition to being the first Pope from the United States, he is also the first member of the Order of Saint Augustine to lead the Catholic Church.
Prabowo congratulates Pope Leo XIV, backs peace message
Rabu, 14 Mei 2025 12:13 WIB
Robert Francis Prevost melambaikan tangan kepada publik setelah terpilih sebagai paus baru di Kota Vatikan, Kamis (8/52025). Robert Francis Prevost yang juga seorang kardinal dari Amerika Serikat terpilih sebagai Paus Leo XIV setelah pemungutan suara rahasia dalam konklaf para kardinal pada hari kedua di Kota Vatikan. ANTARA FOTO/Xinhua/Alberto Lingria/nym.
