TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has extended his congratulations to Pope Leo XIV on his election as the new leader of the Catholic community. Minister of State Secretariat Prasetyo Hadi stated that President Prabowo plans to personally convey his congratulations to the Pope, whose birth name is Robert Francis Prevost.
"He will issue a direct statement, but if I may represent the President, represent the government, we certainly congratulate the election of Pope Leo XIV," Prasetyo said at the Presidential Palace in Central Jakarta on Friday, May 9, 2025.
He explained that Prabowo highlighted Pope Leo XIV's message, which emphasizes peace and social justice. He sees a direct correlation between this message and the second principle of Pancasila, Indonesia’s foundational five principles, which focuses on "just and civilized humanity".
"As an Indonesian, one must not ignore, not memorize, or misunderstand the second principle of Pancasila," he said.
The College of Cardinals elected Robert Francis Prevost from the United States as the new leader of the Catholic community during the papal conclave.
Robert Prevost, a 69-year-old cardinal from Chicago, Illinois, was elected on Thursday as the new Pope, the first Pope from the United States to hold the position of the Holy See.
He will use the name Pope Leo XIV, marking the first time the name "Leo" has been used by a Pope since the 19th century. European leaders congratulated the newly elected Pope Leo XIV on Thursday, expressing their hopes for peace and goodwill across the globe.
French President Emmanuel Macron called the election a historic moment for the Catholic Church and shared a message of brotherhood on the social media platform X, as reported by Anadolu.
The newly appointed Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, also congratulated the new Pope, describing him as "a figure supporting justice and reconciliation."
"May your pontificate contribute to strengthening dialogue and the defense of human rights in a world in need of hope and unity," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote in a post on X.
Sita Planasari contributed to the writing of this article.
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