Solidarity for Mgr Paskalis, Catholics Visit the Vatican Embassy with Candles and Prayers
JAKARTA - Hundreds of Catholics held a Thousand Candle Action and prayer in front of the Apostolic Nunciature or the Vatican Embassy as a form of solidarity to Bishop Paskalis Bruno Syukur, OFM. This action was held after the Bogor Bishop resigned on January 19, 2026 and returned to the OFM Brotherhood House on February 7, 2026.
The activity which took place before dusk was packaged as a joint prayer, not a protest. The people lit candles as a symbol of hope and the search for truth for the series of events that accompanied the resignation of Mgr. Paskalis.
In an oration entitled Light of Truth, Yustinus Prastowo said the presence of the people was an expression of faith, not a confrontational demand.
"We gather not as a mass that demands or a judge who judges, but as believers who carry candles. Candles are a symbol of light so that we can see clearly," said Prastowo in his statement, Tuesday, February 10.
According to Prastowo, the resignation of a bishop is not merely an administrative change, but a pastoral event that has a wide impact on the people. He assessed that the resignation process left questions, especially regarding the pressure acknowledged by Mgr. Paskalis in his official statement.
"I accept the decision of Pope Leo XIV and renounce my position as bishop, despite the pressure and difficult situations that followed," said Bishop Paskalis when resigning.
The confession raised questions among the community regarding the form of pressure involved and the process taken before the decision was made.
Before his resignation, a letter containing accusations against Mgr. Paskalis circulated on social media. The Holy See then appointed an Apostolic Visitor to investigate the allegations. However, until now, the results of the examination have not been made public.
The action committee stated that the lack of clarity prompted the people to demand transparency. They questioned whether Mgr. Paskalis had received a fair and dignified process.
As a follow-up, the group "Solidarity of the People for Mgr. Paskalis Bruno Syukur, OFM" asked the Vatican Holy See to form an independent and impartial investigation team to review the entire visitation process until the resignation.
"This action is not a resistance against the Church. We want to walk together as one people and know the truth because we love the Church," said Prastowo.
Until this news was released, the Apostolic Nunciature and the Indonesian Episcopal Conference (KWI) have not given an official response regarding the request for an independent investigation.