By Mathias Hariyadi
The Indonesian Catholic Church Assembly (SAGKI) 2025 officially concluded with the presentation of its pastoral recommendations in North Jakarta on Nov. 7.
INDONESIA — The assembly, held from Monday to Friday, November 3–7, 2025, gathered around 375 participants representing 38 dioceses across Indonesia, and 1 Military and Police Ordinariate.
Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo of Jakarta presided over a Holy Mass that closed the sessions.
This year’s national assembly served as a milestone for the Catholic Church in Indonesia to reaffirm its pastoral direction and mission amid the challenges of the times
The Church committed itself to ongoing renewal, reasserting its identity as a synodal, missionary, and peace-bearing Church in continuity with the spirit of the 2021–2024 Synod of Bishops.
Key recommendations from SAGKI 2025
In the recommendations read during the closing session, participants emphasized that:
• The Church is called to journey together, listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit through the voices of the faithful — especially the small, the weak, the poor, the marginalized, and persons with disabilities.
• The Church must become a prophetic community that courageously proclaims the truth, reveals the merciful face of God, and nurtures a social life that is just, open, and civilized.
• The Church is also invited to be a bearer of peace and reconciliation amid social, cultural, and political conflicts, and a sign of hope in a wounded world.
Integral faith formation
To realize this missionary calling, SAGKI underscored the importance of integral faith formation, or the development of mature individuals in faith, heart, and mind, so that the faithful may manifest the face of Christ in everyday life.
The Church is also encouraged to develop an ecclesiology of hope, to actively foster an ecological habitus, promote social justice, and uphold human dignity and the integrity of creation.
In this context, the Church is called to become a moral bridge between the state, business sectors, and civil society, upholding justice, solidarity, and the common good.
Special attention to specific groups
SAGKI 2025 also gave special attention to young people, women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
• Young people are encouraged to become missionaries of hope amid the digital world and value crises, while women should be given space to participate and lead in ecclesial life.
• The elderly and persons with disabilities are acknowledged for their dignity as bearers of faith wisdom, and integral members of the Body of Christ.
• The Church is invited to foster a culture of intergenerational dialogue and ensure that all the faithful, without exception, can take an active part in the life and mission of the Church.
Interfaith dialogue
Furthermore, SAGKI emphasized the importance of interfaith and intercultural dialogue as a path to deepening fraternity and peace.
The Church is expected to take the lead in building spaces of genuine and open human encounter within Indonesia’s plural society and to act as a prophetic voice in safeguarding the integrity of creation, in the spirit of the encyclical Laudato Si’.
The SAGKI 2025 recommendations concluded with a reminder that this process should not stop at the level of meetings but be lived out and carried forward in every diocese, parish, and community of the faithful.
“He who began a good work among you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)
The Catholic Church of Indonesia is called to become a pilgrim of hope — journeying with all humanity, kindling the flame of love, and revealing the peaceful face of God in the world.
Jakarta, November 7, 2025
Sources:
• Most Rev. Antonius Subianto Bunjamin, OSC – President of the Bishops’ Conference of Indonesia (KWI)
• Most Rev. Paskalis Bruno Syukur, OFM – Secretary General of KWI
• Rev. Yohanes Aristanto, MSF – Drafting Committee
• Dr. Karlina Supelli – Drafting Committee
