Pope Francis and Grand Imam Nasruddin Omar of Jakarta’s Istiklal Mosque have signed a joint declaration calling for interfaith friendship, taking a stand against religious violence and urging unified action to protect the planet.
The 87-year-old cleric met Nasruddin on his third day at the largest mosque in Southeast Asia on Thursday. interview Indonesia, the opening leg of a two-week tour of the Asia Pacific, which will also take him to Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore.
Nasruddin, 65, said the declaration focused on two messages: “First… humanity is only one, it has no colour. Second, how to save our environment.”
Beginning his speech at the mosque, Francis emphasized the equality of religions, saying that “by looking deeply … we discover that we are all brothers, all pilgrims, all on the path of God, whatever separates us.” Next”.
He warned against the weaponization of religion to fuel conflict and also posed the environmental crisis as an existential threat to human civilization.
“We have a responsibility to address serious … crises that threaten the future of humanity, such as wars and conflicts,” he said, adding that environmental crises are “an obstacle to people’s development and coexistence”.
The Pope was welcomed into the mosque by a percussion band often used in Islamic ceremonies, and once seated, he and Nasruddin heard a passage from the Koran and a passage from the Bible recited by a young blind girl.
The Istiklal Mosque sits opposite Jakarta’s cathedral, connected by the “Tunnel of Friendship” as a symbol of religious brotherhood. Francis visited the tunnel before the meeting, blessed and signed a section of the tunnel.
In Indonesia, the tunnel is held up as a powerful symbol of religious freedom, enshrined in the country’s constitution, but has been challenged by repeated cases of discrimination and violence against religious minorities.
From January 2021 to July 2024, at least 123 cases of intolerance were reported, including the denial, closure or demolition of places of worship and physical sites. attacksAmnesty International noted on the eve of Francis’ visit.
Later on Thursday, Francis will deliver mass to about 80,000 people at Indonesia’s main football stadium, with thousands expected outside.
Many people have traveled from Indonesia’s vast island archipelago for the event. Catholicism is one of six officially recognized religions or sects in Indonesia, including Protestantism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism.
They represent less than 3 percent of the country’s population—about eight million people—compared to 87 percent—or 242 million—who are Muslim.
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