Society
Of The Divine Word

The award recognizes his decades-long commitment to interreligious dialogue and peacebuilding in Asia and beyond.

Originally scheduled to be presented during PWKI’s 18th Annual New Year Gathering in Jakarta on January 25, the award was personally handed to Fr. Markus at St. Peter’s Square in Rome on March 19 by Fr. Riston Situmorang, OSC, on behalf of PWKI and the Bishops’ Conference of Indonesia.

“This honor is not only mine,” said Fr. Markus during the ceremony. “It belongs to all those who believe in the power of dialogue to bring about peace.”

Born in East Flores, Indonesia, Fr. Markus joined the Society of the Divine Word in 1988 and pursued further studies in Austria.

Since 2007, he has served at the Vatican’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue and currently holds the role of Desk Officer for Islam in Asia and the Pacific.

He also serves as Vice President of the Nostra Aetate Foundation. Through these positions, he has played a vital role in building bridges of understanding between Christians and Muslims, particularly in Asia’s pluralistic societies.

In 2024, Fr. Markus played a pivotal role in two landmark interfaith initiatives. The first was the Jakarta–Vatican Declaration, signed in August during Pope Francis’s audience with Indonesian interfaith youth leaders—a powerful affirmation of dialogue, peace, and religious unity.

The second was the historic Istiqlal Declaration, jointly signed by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque during the Pope’s pastoral visit to Indonesia in September.

Fr. Markus not only contributed to shaping these milestones but also served as the official translator for the pope during the Istiqlal ceremony—underscoring his trusted presence at the heart of Catholic-Muslim engagement.

Both declarations highlight Indonesia’s unique model of religious pluralism and peace—and underscore Fr. Markus’s behind-the-scenes leadership.

PWKI’s 2025 theme, “Food for All,” emphasized the connection between peace and shared prosperity. Reflecting on this, Fr. Markus remarked, “Without bread, there is no celebration, no community, no peace.”

Alongside Fr. Markus, PWKI also honored seven interfaith youth leaders from across Indonesia who co-signed the Jakarta–Vatican Declaration. Their recognition symbolizes the growing commitment of younger generations to continue the mission of peace through dialogue.

Fr. Markus dedicated the award to his late father and called the recognition a “Gabe”—a gift—and an “Aufgabe”—a task. “This is not the end of a chapter,” he said. “It is a reminder that I am not walking this path alone.”

GMD