By Konradus Epa, Jakarta

A German-born Jesuit priest has received the Habibie Award 2010 for his role in promoting interfaith dialogue and religious harmony in Indonesia.

Vice president Boediono (in blue) greets Jesuit Father Franz Magnis Suseno (extreme right)

“I was surprised and touched…I have a task to keep in holding my commitment as an intellectual in Indonesia,” said Jesuit Father Franz Magnis Suseno.

He said the Nov. 30 award presentation by Indonesian Vice President Boediono in Central Jakarta showed the country’s commitment to fighting for an independent, civilized and democratic nation.

“I do support your struggle to improve religious harmony in our country,” said Boediono acknowledging the Jesuit priest’s writings and views on religious harmony.

Father Suseno was born in Eckersdorft in 1936 and ordained priest in 1967 in Yogyakarta. The government in 1977 approved his Indonesian citizenship.

He has been a philosophy professor at the Driyarkara School of Philosophy in Jakarta since April 1996.

The award, named after Indonesia’s third president Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie, is given annually to individuals with achievements in science, biotechnology and medical care, sociology and economics, engineering, and history.

This year’s recipients include Eniya Listiani Dewi, a researcher in engineering science, Adrian Bernard Lapian, an expert of maritime history, and Ahmad Syafii Maarif, former chairman of Muhammadiyah, Indonesia’s second-largest Muslim organization.