Prabowo Welcomes New Whale, Hopes To Become A World Peace Bridge

JAKARTA - President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto congratulated the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church under the name Leo XIV. The President expressed his hope that the leadership of this new Pope could become a bridge of peace in the world full of challenges.

The congratulations were conveyed by President Prabowo through an upload on the official Instagram account @presidenrepublicindonesia on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

"On behalf of the government and the people of Indonesia, I would like to express my sincere congratulations to His Majesty Pope Leo XIV for his election as the Bishop of Rome and the Highest Pope of the Catholic Church," the President wrote in a statement accompanied by an official photo of Pope Leo XIV.

The President added that Pope Leo XIV's moral leadership and his dedication to affection are new hopes for many parties in navigating the global crisis and social unrest that is engulfing various parts of the world.

"Hopefully its papal will become a bridge to peace and unity, as well as inspire hopes across religions and national boundaries," Prabowo continued.

Previously, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi also congratulated the election of Pope Leo XIV who replaced Pope Francis, who died some time ago.

Prasetyo positively welcomed the direction of the new Pope's leadership which emphasized the importance of peace and social justice as the foundation of the Church in the modern era.

In his inaugural speech from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV invited Catholics around the world to unite in the spirit of dialogue and cross-border solidarity. He conveyed a prayer for world peace and called for the formation of bridges between human believers.

"Help us build a united dialogue bridge to become one of the people in the world forever," Pope Leo XIV said.

Robert Francis Provost, who now officially bears the name Leo XIV, is the first Pope from the United States to come from Chicago. He is 69 years old and has long served a pastoral mission in Peru.

His experience with the marginal and migrant communities while serving in Latin America made him a figure respected by the late Pope Francis, who made him cardinal in 2023.

Leo XIV is known to be fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and French. His concern for vulnerable groups and their inclusive approach is seen as a continuation of the Church's more open vision and embrace under the leadership of Francis.

With the election of Leo XIV, the Catholic Church is expected to continue to play a strategic role in promoting cross- faith dialogue and become a moral force in facing global inequality, humanitarian crisis, and social disintegration which is still a challenge to the world today.