Roman Catholicism in Indonesia

Roman Catholicism In Indonesia

The Roman Catholic Church in Indonesia is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and Curia in Rome. Roman Catholicism is one of the six approved religions in Indonesia, the others being Islam, Protestantism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. According to official figures, Catholics made up 3.5% percent of the population in 2010. The number of the Catholics is therefore nearly 7.5 million. Indonesia became only the second predominantly Catholic country in Asia (after the Philippines) and before East Timor.

The Church is organised into ten archdioceses and 27 dioceses and is led by Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo. There are several active Roman Catholic religious institutes, including the Jesuits, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) and the SVD.

Catholicism in Indonesia began with the arrival of the Portuguese in search of the Spice Islands in the 16th century. Today, East Nusa Tenggara is the only province in Indonesia where Roman Catholicism is the majority, adhered by around 90% of East Nusa Tenggara population. Other than East Nusa Tenggara, there is also significant Catholic population in Central Java, especially in and around Muntilan.