Vatican Radio signs accord with Indonesia’s public radio

(Vatican Radio)  Vatican Radio has signed an historic cooperative agreement with Indonesia’s national public radio, Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) to allow Christians in the world’s most populous Muslim nation to follow significant papal ceremonies such as the Easter week liturgies in Rome.

For the first time, Indonesian Catholics were able to follow a live broadcast of Christmas Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica thanks to the initial collaboration between the two radio stations in December 2014.

The Memorandum provides for continued close cooperation between the two public service broadcasters for the coverage of religious events particularly relevant to the life of the universal Church.

During Holy Week, RRI will broadcast live the Way of the Cross procession around Rome’s Colosseum, the Easter Vigil, Easter Mass presided by Pope Francis, and the Urbi et Orbi blessing on Easter Sunday. 

Ms. Rosarita Niken Widiastuti, the President and Director General of Radio Republik Indonesia, and the Director General of Vatican Radio, Father Federico Lombardi, SJ. signed a Memorandum of Understanding Wednesday at Vatican Radio’s offices in Rome. The Republic of Indonesia’s Ambassador to the Holy See, HE Budiarman Bahar and Vatican Radio’s Director of Programming , Fr. Andrzej Koprowski, SJ were also present at the ceremony.

Both sides described the accord as an “historic” development in interfaith and intercultural dialogue.

Ambassador Bahar expressed his satisfaction with the agreement as a “valuable service” to the Christian community in the Asian nation. The role of Indonesia’s public service, he stressed, must take into account all the components and all groups of Indonesian society.

A thought fully shared by RRI’s Director General, Ms. Niken Widiastuti who underlined that just as cultural and artistic exchanges are important, knowledge of religious traditions can  deepen mutual understanding.