RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Holy See has officially adopted Indonesian as a language on its Vatican News platform. This decision was marked by the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Holy See's Dicastery for Communication and the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference (KWI) at the Vatican on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

The signing was carried out by the Chairman of the KWI's Communication Commission, Agustinus Tri Budi Utomo and the Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, Paolo Ruffini, with the presence of Indonesian Ambassador to the Holy See, Michael Trias Kuncahyono.

This move makes Indonesian the 57th official language used in Vatican News services. The policy aims to extend the Catholic Church’s global communication outreach to the faithful in Indonesia and surrounding regions.

Mgr. Agustinus Tri Budi Utomo underscored that the cooperation agreement is not just an administrative formality, but a significant milestone in strengthening the relationship between Indonesia and the universal Church. "This is a celebration of everlasting friendship and recognition of Indonesia's national identity. The presence of Indonesian in Vatican News will become an even stronger bridge of faith," he said in a press release received by InfoPublik on Thursday, March 26, 2026.

In addition, he added that the availability of services in Indonesian would allow Catholics in Indonesia and Malaysia to access official Church information, including messages from the Pope, in their native language. This is expected to deepen the understanding and connection of the faithful with the global dynamics of the Church.

Meanwhile, Paolo Ruffini emphasized that using one’s mother tongue is a vital approach in inclusive public communication. "Speaking in the mother tongue is the best way to serve the people. This is the basis for the decision to include Indonesian," he stated.

The Indonesian Ambassador to the Holy See, Michael Trias Kuncahyono, described this signing as a historic moment following a long process that began in 2022.

He saw this move as opening up broader opportunities for collaboration in communication, culture, and diplomacy. "This is not just a symbolic achievement, but the start of significant work that requires consistency, technological support, and adequate resources," he said.

The idea to include Indonesian in Vatican News was first proposed by representatives of the Indonesian Catholic Journalists Association (PWKI) in June 2022. After a period of discussions, the proposal was finally realized in 2026.

This decision also strengthens Indonesia’s position as the country with the largest Catholic community in Southeast Asia, while affirming the international recognition of Indonesian as a globally strategic language.