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Romo Magnis receives award in Milan for interfaith role
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As a German missionary, Romo Magnis chose Indonesia to become his country of residence in 1977. (JP/Emanuel Dapa Loka)
J
esuit Priest Romo Franz-Magnis Suseno SJ, commonly referred to as Romo Magnis, has been conferred a Premio Internazionale Matteo Ricci, or Matteo Ricci Award (MRA), for his role in advancing the interfaith dialogue in Indonesia.
The award ceremony, attended by 150 people comprising university students and priests of Societa Jesuit Indonesia and Italian scholars, took place in Milan, Italy.
Inspired by the outstanding services performed by Priest Matteo Ricci (1552-1610), the meritorious award was presented to Romo Magnis by the social politics faculty board of Sacro Cuore University and the sociocultural guidance counselor of the Indonesian Embassy in Rome, Charles F Hutapea, as reported by Antara news agency.
Sacro Cuore University Chancellor Franco Anelli appraised Romo Magnis as a figure who integrated the fundamentals of interfaith dialogue into science, academics and public discussion. Romo Magnis was also commended for having tenaciously dedicated his life to advocating for tolerance toward pluralism in Indonesia.
(Read also: Franz Magnis-Suseno SJ: Fifty years of enjoying Indonesia)
As a German missionary, Romo Magnis chose Indonesia to become his country of residence in 1977. Having taught at the Driyarkara Philosophy and Theology School in Central Jakarta as a professor, Romo Magnis further manifested his love for the country by incorporating a Javanese surname to his name with “Suseno”.
In the ceremony, Romo Magnis addressed a public lecture called "Bearing Witness to the Gospel in a Muslim Society: A Learning Process" and highlighted the importance of public interfaith dialogue that uses wise and proper language, especially in the advent of religious extremism.
In 2015, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo awarded Romo Magnis with a Bintang Mahaputra, the highest civilian award in Indonesia, one he wore proudly as a badge when he was granted the MRA. (mra/kes)
