December 15, 2025 | 06:06 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Romo Muhammad Syafi’i has stressed that the Joint Christmas Celebration organized within the Ministry of Religious Affairs is intended exclusively for Protestant and Catholic Christians, and should not be interpreted as an interfaith event.
Syafi’i made the clarification during a Cross-Sectoral Coordination Meeting on Security for Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026 at the Mutiara Auditorium of the National Police Education and Training Institute in Jakarta on Monday, December 15, 2025.
“Regarding the Joint Christmas Celebration, it is important to emphasize that this refers to a Christmas celebration for Protestant and Catholic Christians. It is not designed as an interfaith event involving followers of all religions within the ministry,” Syafi’i said.
He said the clarification was necessary in response to public debate surrounding the Ministry’s plan to hold a Joint Christmas Celebration. The event, he added, remains consistent with Indonesia’s national policy on religious moderation and tolerance, while also respecting the doctrinal boundaries and traditions of each faith.
Syafi’i also added that this year’s Joint Christmas Celebration will be held under the theme Nusantara Love Festival. The event is scheduled for December 29, 2025, at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII), a cultural park in Jakarta, and is expected to draw around 2,000 participants.
In addition to the ministry-organized event, Indonesia’s Christian community will also hold a National Christmas celebration.
“The National Christmas will take place on January 5, 2026, at Tennis Indoor Senayan, with an estimated 3,500 participants,” Syafi’i said.
The deputy minister said the Ministry of Religious Affairs is committed to ensuring that all religious communities can observe their worship safely, comfortably, and solemnly, particularly during the Christmas and New Year period.
He instructed organizing committees to strengthen coordination with security forces at both the national and regional levels.
“Based on reports we have received, all places of worship holding Christmas services have coordinated with the police,” Syafi’i said.
He lso added that Christmas services held in public venues must meet requirements related to suitability, security, and official permits.
Beyond security, Syafi’i encouraged organizers to prioritize environmentally friendly practices and to expand social activities, such as charitable programs and community empowerment, as meaningful expressions of the Christmas and New Year spirit.
For large-scale events, he also underscored the need for adequate health services and disaster preparedness.
“We also urge that celebrations not be excessive, as an expression of empathy for our brothers and sisters who are currently affected by disasters,” Syafi’i said.
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