Yanuarius, 62, was ordained as Jayapura bishop by papal nuncio to Indonesia, monsignor Piero Pioppo, at the Jayapura Cathedral on Thursday.

Attending the event was the Religious Ministry’s acting Director General for Catholic Community Guidance A.M. Adiyarto Sumardjono. He welcomed Yanuarius' inauguration, describing it as a peaceful transfer of leadership in the Catholic church that reflected the spirit of solidarity, harmony and tolerance among Catholics in Indonesia.

Relaying the messages from minister Yahya Cholil Qoumas, Adiyarto said he hoped Yanuarius would bring positive changes to Papuan Catholics by offering better understanding of people's aspirations, providing solutions and the best service in order to nurture love for the country and to increase participation in building the nation.

He said Catholics in Indonesia should be “strong in their religious faith as well as love for their nation”, adding that “100-percent Catholic also means being 100-percent Indonesian”.

“The [new] bishop should play a quick and responsive role in responding to a myriad of issues, preventing chaos and bringing unity,” Adiyarto said in a statement on Friday.

Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) chairman Gomar Gultom congratulated the inauguration of Yanuarius, saying that he hoped that the appointment of a native Papuan as bishop could uplift the spirits of indigenous Papuan people.

“I hope that Yanuarius, together with other elements of Papuan society, will lead the Papuan people in a better direction, especially to help settle Papuan problems, which are very complex and remain to this day,” Gomar said on Friday. He also expressed his thanks to the previous Jayapura bishop monsignor Leo Laba Ladjar for his contribution to the society in Papua.

Pope Francis announced the appointment of Yanuarius to be the bishop of Jayapura on Oct. 29, 2022, to replace Leo who was bishop in Jayapura since Aug. 29, 1997.

Born in Uwebutu, Paniai regency in 1961, Yanuarius was ordained a priest in 1991. In 2002, he became the parish priest of the Jayapura Cathedral and served as the vicar general of the diocese from 2002 to 2006.

Yanuarius finished his Master’s degree in psychology at Yogyakarta State University (UNY) in 2010 and a doctorate in anthropology at the same university in 2020.

During his inauguration ceremony, Yanuarius announced his episcopal motto “Ego Vobisccum Sum” (I am with you) from Matthew 28:20, saying that he chose the motto as he believes God will be with him and protect him while carrying out his duty as Jayapura bishop.

“Being appointed by Pope Francis as [the new] Jayapura bishop is proof of God’s immense love for me,” Yanuarius said on Thursday, Kompas daily reported.

He said that as bishop he would make sure that the Catholic church would continue to campaign for peace in Papua and would promote Papuan culture with the Catholic church.

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