Ludovikus Simanullang


Ludovikus Simanullang was an Indonesian Roman Catholic bishop.
Simanulang was born in Sogar in Central Tapanuli Regency, Indonesia, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1983. He served as a bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sibolga, Indonesia from 2007 until his death. He was a member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin.

Biography

On 2 August 1981 Simanullang took his final vows as a Capuchin. He was ordained a priest on 10 July 1983. From 1984 to 1989 he was the pastor of the Church of St. Hilarius Parish in the village of Tarutung Bolak, Central Tapanuli Regency and the Teluk Dalam Nias Parish in Nias. From 1989 to 1994 he took a break from pastoral work and studied at the Pontifical University Antonianum. In 1997, Mgr Ludovikus was elected Provincial Minister in the Capuchin Province of St. Fidelis, Sibolga, a post he occupied from 1997 to 2007.
On 14 March 2007 Simanullang was appointed to be bishop of Sibolga. On 20 May 2007 he was ordained bishop by Leopoldo Girelli, then Apostolic Nunciature to Indonesia, who served as consecrator. The principal co-consecrators were Martinus Dogma Situmorang O.F.M. Cap. then bishop of Padang, and Anicetus Bongsu Antonius Sinaga O.F.M. Cap. then coadjutor archbishop of Medan.
In June 2016 the diocese of Sibolga released a letter written by Simanullang the previous month urging priest not to run for public office. This was in response to a request by a priest named who was running, and was ultimarly elected to office in Central Tapanuli Regency. Simanullang felt that by participating directly in government Manalu and others had violated the cannon laws of the Catholic faith.
Simanullang died on 20 September 2018, haven been taken to hospital ill on 1 September 2019.