Pope Francis and Indonesian Imam Unite in Call for Peace

Pope Francis and Indonesia’s top imam, Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar, urged against using religion to fuel conflict during a joint event in Jakarta on Thursday. Their message of peace was delivered before the 87-year-old pope held a large mass at a football stadium.

The two religious leaders signed a declaration at Istiqlal Mosque, Southeast Asia’s largest mosque, promoting “religious harmony for humanity.” This declaration is one of the key moments of Francis’s three-day visit to Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, marking the start of his challenging tour across the Asia-Pacific.

The declaration highlighted the dangers of using religion to justify violence and conflict. It stressed that religion should protect human dignity and foster peace. Both leaders also pointed to the global environmental crisis, calling for urgent action to address climate change, which they said threatens human civilization.

Pope Francis met with leaders of Indonesia’s six recognized religions – Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism – and emphasized unity, stating that “we are all brothers, all pilgrims on our way to God.”

During the event, the pope and Nasaruddin listened to passages from both the Quran and the Bible. The pope also visited a “tunnel of friendship” connecting the mosque to Jakarta’s cathedral, signing a part of it as a symbol of interfaith unity.

Nasaruddin later told the press that their message was focused on two key points: the unity of humanity and the need to protect the environment.

Francis’s visit to Indonesia is part of his ongoing efforts to strengthen ties with Muslim-majority countries. It is the third visit by a pope to the country, following Pope John Paul II’s visit in 1989. While Catholics make up less than three percent of Indonesia’s population, Pope Francis’s visit has been met with great excitement from the country’s Catholic community.

Later on Thursday, the pope is expected to address a crowd of nearly 80,000 people at Indonesia’s main football stadium, with thousands more gathering outside. This will be the largest event during his visit to Indonesia and will conclude his three-day stop before continuing his tour to Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore.

Despite his fragile health, Pope Francis is pushing forward with his 12-day trip, the longest tour of his papacy, which follows his previous visit to France in 2023. Accompanied by his personal doctor and nurses, he aims to promote peace, unity, and environmental responsibility throughout the region.