The Catholic Church and the Question of West Papua: A Call for Consistent Advocacy on Human Rights

In his landmark encyclical 'Rerum Novarum' (1891), Pope Leo XIII initiated a tradition of Catholic social teaching that called upon the Church to address the urgent social problems of the modern era.

This foundational document not only affirmed the dignity of labor and the rights of workers but also urged the Church to engage constructively in societal transformation. 

Throughout the 20th century, the Catholic Church has consistently extended its concern beyond purely spiritual matters, positioning itself as a global advocate for justice and equity. Subsequent pontiffs built upon Pope Leo XIII’s vision. Pope Pius XI, in Divini Redemptoris (1937), emphasized the centrality of human rights in the Church’s mission. Later, in his 1944 Christmas radio address, Pope Pius XII asserted that “human dignity is the dignity of the image of God,” thus reinforcing the theological basis for the Church’s commitment to human rights.

Since the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), the Catholic Church has increasingly referenced the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), highlighting its compatibility with Christian anthropology. This alignment has been reaffirmed in recent years. Most notably, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, in its Declaration on Human Dignity (April 2, 2024), affirmed that “denouncing serious and ongoing violations of human dignity is a duty.”

In light of this robust tradition, one must critically assess whether the Holy See has adequately prioritized human rights at the international level—especially in relation to the ongoing crisis in West Papua, which remains unresolved after more than six decades. While the Holy See has played an active diplomatic role in conflicts such as those in Ukraine and Gaza—encouraging dialogue and peaceful resolution—it has remained notably silent on the issue of West Papua.

This silence is particularly striking given the visit of Pope Francis to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea in September 2024, during which the conflict in West Papua was conspicuously absent from his public addresses. This omission is concerning, especially in light of appeals from both within and outside the Church urging the Holy Father to speak out.

The West Papuan conflict has resulted in the deaths of an estimated 500,000 individuals and the displacement of countless others since Indonesia's controversial annexation of the territory in the aftermath of the 1969 “Act of Free Choice”—a referendum widely regarded by scholars and human rights organizations as deeply flawed. The region's protracted violence and human rights abuses merit sustained international attention and moral condemnation.

As the Catholic Church prepares to celebrate the Jubilee Year 2025—designated by Pope Francis as a year of “forgiveness and liberation”—it is imperative that this message of justice be made concrete. The Holy See must demonstrate moral consistency by acknowledging and addressing the suffering of the West Papuan people. Upholding the dignity of all human persons demands that their voices not be ignored.