Pope appoints new archbishop in Semarang, Indonesia

Pope Francis on Saturday appointed a new head to the Archdiocese of Semarang in Central Java, Indonesia.  Fr. Robertus Rubiyatmoko, the judicial vicar as well as formator of the Major Seminary of Semarang is the new archbishop. The archdiocese has been without a head since Archbishop Johannes Pujasumarta passed away on 10 November, 2015.   The papal appointment comes ahead of the 7th Asian Youth Day of the Catholic ‎Church that is being hosted by Semarang Archdiocese from July 30 to August 9 this ‎year.  "Joyful Asian Youth! Living the Gospel in Multicultural Asia," is the theme of the  youth rally that is taking centre stage in Yogyakarta.

Born in Sleman, 10 Oct., 1963, Fr. Rubiyatmoko entered St. Peter Canisius Minor Seminary of Mertoyudan.  He later completed his philosophical and theological studies at the Pontifical Faculty of Yogakarta and was ordained a priest on 12 August, 1992 for Semarang Archdiocese.

After his priestly ordination, Fr. Rubiyatmoko assumed several responsibilities:

1992-1993:      Assistant parish priest of Santa Maria Assumpta Church in Pakem

1993-1997:      Graduation in Canon Law from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, Italy.

Since 1998:     Professor of Canon Law at the Pontifical Faculty of Theology Wedabhakti in Yogyakarta; formator at St. Paul’s Major Seminary of Yogyakarta

2004-2011:      Vice president of the Pontifical Faculty of Theology Wedabhakti, Yogyakarta

Since 2011:     Judicial Vicar of Semarang Archdiocese.

Spread across an area of over 21 sq.km., Semarang Archdiocese provides pastoral care to over 404,000 Catholics out of a total population of 22.8 million.  There are 98 parishes where 399 priests (203 diocesan and 196 religious) are working. The archdiocese also has 221 men religious, 1162 women religious as well as 60 major seminarians.