Papuan priest Izaak Bame, new vicar of Manokwari-Sorong diocese

Fr. Izaak Bame

A Shepherd with the Smell of His Flock: Fr. Izaak Bame’s Appointment Signals Hope and Resistance in Occupied West Papua

The recent appointment of Father Izaak Bame as Vicar General of the Diocese of Manokwari-Sorong has stirred a wave of hope, affirmation, and renewed resistance among the people of West Papua and their allies around the world. In a land wounded by six decades of occupation, militarization, and systemic injustice, the elevation of a pastor so intimately tied to the cries of his people is not merely an internal Church matter — it is a profound moment of spiritual and political significance.

A Voice from the Margins Now Centered

Fr. Izaak is no stranger to struggle. Long before this appointment, he stood as one of the few senior Papuan Catholic priests who dared to consistently and publicly denounce the violence, lies, and silencing that have marked the Indonesian state’s presence in West Papua. His work has not been confined to the pulpit or chancery; rather, he has walked alongside displaced communities, particularly those in Maybrat, who have been forced to flee due to the intensifying conflict between the Indonesian military and West Papuan guerilla forces.

His sharp criticism of Jakarta-backed Papuan elites, including Apolo Safanpo, the current Governor of South Papua, reveals the depth of his commitment not just to truth, but to the integrity of leadership itself. When Dr. Safanpo traveled to the Vatican in October 2024 to present a narrative of “Papua as a Land of Peace,” Fr. Izaak was unflinching in his response:
“I, together with all indigenous Papuans, feel sad that Doctor Apolo Safanpo went abroad only to add to the list of lies in the international world related to the situation in Papua.”

Such words are not merely personal opinion — they are prophetic indictment. They expose the widening gap between official narratives and ground realities, between state-controlled optics and the lived experience of the oppressed.

The Prophetic Dimension of Ecclesial Leadership

In many contexts, the role of a Vicar General may be seen as administrative or auxiliary. In West Papua, however, this position — especially when occupied by a prophetic Papuan priest — carries profound weight. It signals the potential for the Catholic Church to reclaim its moral and spiritual responsibility amid ongoing atrocities and colonial silence.

This is a kairos moment, a time when the Church in West Papua can no longer afford neutrality, ambiguity, or diplomatic silence. With over 60,000 to 100,000 Papuan civilians displaced since 2018, and widespread reports of extrajudicial killings, torture, and cultural erasure, the Church must decide whether it will align itself with power or with the crucified people of Papua.

Fr. Izaak’s appointment is an invitation to ecclesial conversion — a turning back to the Gospel's radical call to solidarity, truth-telling, and accompaniment of the oppressed. His presence at the heart of diocesan leadership sends a signal not only to the faithful in Manokwari-Sorong but also to the broader Indonesian Church and the global Catholic community.

Christ and the Cross of West Papua

For decades, many West Papuans have experienced the Church not as a liberating force, but as a silent observer — or worse, a complicit institution in the machinery of occupation. Fr. Izaak challenges this history with his very life and ministry. His leadership represents the kind of shepherd Pope Francis describes — one who “smells like the sheep,” who walks with his people through the mud of their suffering, and who does not retreat when the cost of discipleship grows heavy.

His appointment rekindles the flame of hope. It tells the people of West Papua: You are not forgotten. Your suffering is not invisible. Your cry is heard.

Ever Onward, Never Retreat

As the people of West Papua continue to resist the occupation of their land, their dignity, and their future, the presence of leaders like Fr. Izaak is a divine affirmation of their struggle. It is a reminder that faith and freedom are not incompatible, and that Christ stands with those crucified by empire — in Bethlehem, in Calvary, and in the highlands of Papua.

So to Padre Izaak, we say:
Congratulations, courage, and communion.
You do not walk alone. Christ walks with you.
And the people of the Land of the Morning Star are praying, watching, and rising.

Ever onward. Never retreat!

Letter of notification from the diocese of Manokwari-Sorong
regarding the appointment of Fr. Izaak Bame as vicar general.