President Prabowo Subianto gave Setiadi a special mandate to attend Pope Leo XIV's inauguration at the Vatican on Sunday.
"The cooperative movement, which emerged from the spirit of togetherness and mutual assistance, has deep value alignment with socio-religious teachings, especially in terms of fighting for human dignity, eradicating poverty, and realizing a just economy," he noted in a statement received here, Monday.
The minister views Pope Leo XIV's inauguration as a symbol of renewed hope for a global spiritual leader who is concerned about humanitarian issues, including economic justice, which the global cooperative movement has long championed.
On that occasion, he also conveyed the message that cooperatives are not merely economic entities but also social movements capable of bridging divides and strengthening the foundations of peace.
"The spirit of solidarity and subsidiarity are two main principles that also underlie the development of village cooperatives in Indonesia, such as Merah Putih Village Cooperative, which is currently being promoted," the minister stated.
He expressed respect for President Prabowo's trust in him to maintain strong relations between the Indonesian government and the Vatican.
"I attended the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV as a real manifestation of the Indonesian nation's commitment to building dialogue between nations, between faiths, and between civilizations," he remarked.
On a personal note, Setiadi described the mandate to attend Pope Leo XIV's inauguration as an extraordinary experience.
He expressed his gratitude to President Prabowo Subianto for the opportunity to participate in the inauguration of the Catholic Church's world leader.
"For me, personally, this is an extraordinary experience that makes me also grateful for being given the trust to represent the government of the Republic of Indonesia in the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV," he stated.
Related news: Minister, Pope Leo shake hands at Vatican event
Related news: Prabowo sends letter of peace, support to Pope Leo XIV
Related news: Prabowo congratulates Pope Leo XIV, backs peace message
Translator: Shofi Ayudiana, Katriana
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
