Bishop Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo, Archbishop of Jakarta and President of the Indonesian Episcopal Conference, will be appointed cardinal by Pope Francis to the Vatican at a ceremony to be celebrated on 5 October. The archbishop of Jakarta is also bishop of the Military Ordinariate of Indonesia and a member of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Born in 1950, ordained a priest in 1976 and bishop in 1997, he was transferred to Jakarta as coadjutor bishop in 2009, then named archbishop on June 29, 2010. The origin of the thirteen new cardinals - ten of whom are under 80 years and join the cardinal electors - expresses the missionary vocation of the Church, said Pope Francis announcing the appointment.

Pope Francis announced thirteen new cardinals, including Bishop Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo, Archbishop of Jakarta. Bishop Suharyo, who is also president of the Indonesian Episcopal Conference, is the only Asian bishop among the new cardinals. The pope made the announcement after the prayer of the Angelus, the 1 st September at the Vatican. The other twelve new cardinals come from North America, Central America, Africa and Europe. They will be appointed by Pope Francis on October 5th. "Their origins express the missionary vocation of the Church, which continues to proclaim the merciful love of God for all men on earth,"said the Holy Father. The elevation of 69-year-old Bishop Suharyo to the rank of Cardinal makes him the third Indonesian to wear the red cap - the former being Cardinal Julius Darmaatmadja, Jesuit, Archbishop Emeritus of Jakarta, appointed Cardinal in 1994. Bishop Suharyo, having less than 80 years old, joins the ranks of the cardinal electors, who will be able to participate in the conclave in case of election of a new pope. In addition to the presidency of the Bishops' Conference, the Archbishop of Jakarta is also bishop of the Military Ordinariate of Indonesia, and a member of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

Born in Bantul, Yogyakarta, on July 9, 1950, he was ordained a priest on January 26, 1976, and became bishop on August 22, 1997. He was transferred to Jakarta as coadjutor bishop in 2009, and he was was appointed Archbishop on June 29, 2010. "I thank God for the confidence and love of Pope Francis towards the Catholic Church in Indonesia, by appointing Bishop Ignatius Suharyo as Cardinal," said Father Vincentius Adi Prasodjo, Secretary of the Archdiocese of Jakarta, in a statement. "He is a passionate pastor, not only for Catholics but also for all the faithful of other religions. He knows how to put at ease all those who communicate with him ",he added. Ahmad Syafii Maarif, former head of Muhammadyah, the second largest Islamic organization in Indonesia, sent congratulations to the archbishop of Jakarta. "This is an extraordinary gift that the pope makes to the Indonesian people," he greets in a video message. Hargo Mandirahardjo, president of the Association of Indonesian Catholic Intellectuals (ISKA), also welcomed the new appointment. "It's a joy for the entire Catholic Church in Indonesia. "

(Ssource: Églises d'Asie - le 03/09/2019, With Ucanews, Jakarta)