Jakarta Archbishop Highlights Nationwide Catholic Solidarity in Disaster Relief

Jakarta: Jakarta Archbishop Ignatius Cardinal Suharyo said Catholic parishes across Indonesia are working together to raise relief funds for communities affected by floods and landslides in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.

Speaking at a Christmas 2025 press conference at Jakarta Cathedral on Thursday, Suharyo described the initiative as an unprecedented show of solidarity within the Indonesian Catholic community.

“Never in my life have I seen all churches collectively raising funds like this,” he said.

Suharyo explained that the Indonesian Catholic Bishops’ Conference (KWI) has instructed all bishops to encourage parishes nationwide to hold a second collection during weekend Masses to support ongoing disaster response efforts in Sumatra.

The funds are managed centrally by KWI and distributed through Caritas Indonesia, which has deployed humanitarian teams to affected areas. However, he noted that several dioceses have chosen to channel donations directly to ensure faster assistance, particularly in areas where Caritas’ operational reach is limited.

According to Suharyo, aid coordination is being handled locally by the Diocese of Padang in West Sumatra, the Diocese of Sibolga in North Sumatra, and the Archdiocese of Medan for affected communities in Aceh.

He added that a KWI assessment team has conducted on-site evaluations to determine both immediate needs and long-term rehabilitation priorities.

Emphasizing the scale of recovery required, Suharyo noted that full rehabilitation of disaster-affected communities could take between 20 and 25 years.

“Our disaster relief efforts reflect our awareness of the responsibility to stand in solidarity with communities suffering from these tragedies,” he said.