Catholic church’s mitigating responses to the COVID-19 pandemic globally and in Indonesia

¹ Character Building Development Center, Computer Science Department, School of Computer Science, Bina Nusantara University, 11480 Jakarta, Indonesia
² Associate Professor, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines
³ Character Building Development Center, Industrial Engineering Department, School of Industrial Engineering, Bina Nusantara University, 11480 Jakarta, Indonesia
⁴ School of Information Systems, Bina Nusantara University, Alam Sutera, Serpong, 15143 Tangerang Selatan, Indonesia
⁵ Character Building Development Center, Informatics Engineering Department Bina Nusantara University, 11480 Jakarta, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: plakonawa@binus.edu

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred global responses from various sectors, including religious institutions. This research investigates the mitigation efforts of the Catholic Church on a global scale and its particular responses within Indonesia during the pandemic. It employs a mixed-method research design by combining qualitative and quantitative approaches in analysing official Church documents, the data from surveys and qualitative interviews with key stakeholders within the Catholic Church in Indonesia. It shows that the Catholic Church’s responses to the COVID-19 pandemic encompassed various dimensions. Globally, the Church, led by Pope Francis, emphasized solidarity, compassion, and social responsibility, advocating for vaccination programs and debt relief for affected countries. In Indonesia, the Church creatively adapted its worship procedures, emphasizing safety over rituals. It implemented online services, discouraged physical contact, and followed health protocols. Additionally, the Church engaged in charitable outreach, healthcare assistance, psychological support, and educational campaigns. Collaboration with government and non-governmental organizations was pivotal. The findings offer insights into the interplay between religion, science, and public health during pandemics and provide a reference for policymakers, religious leaders, and scholars in similar contexts.