Pope Francis (proper) kisses the appropriate hand of the Grand Imam of Istiqlal Mosque Nasaruddin Umar after an interreligious assembly with religion leaders on the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Thursday.
Aditya Aji/Pool Picture by way of AP
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Aditya Aji/Pool Picture by way of AP
SINGAPORE — Pope Francis met with Nasaruddin Umar, the grand imam of Southeast Asia’s largest mosque, on Thursday, in a gathering in centered on preventing local weather change and non secular extremism.
The pair signed a joint declaration on the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, symbolizing the pope’s push to advertise spiritual concord throughout his go to to Muslim-majority Indonesia.
Francis referred to as the mosque a “great gift” and advised individuals from different faiths that “we are all brothers and sisters, all pilgrims, all on our way to God, beyond what differentiates us.”
The joint declaration additionally referred to as on Catholics and Muslims to unite to push international leaders into motion on local weather change.
Francis described the “environmental crisis” as “an impediment to the expansion and co-existence of peoples.”
Indonesia is the first stop on the pope’s 11-day, four-nation Asia Pacific tour.
Home to the world’s largest Muslim population, the Indonesian government officially recognizes six faiths: Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Hinduism.
While freedom of religion is enshrined in the country’s constitution, there have been incidents of religious intolerance.
Pope Francis and the Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar (proper) signal the “Joint Declaration of Istiqlal 2024” as they meet on the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Thursday. Pope Francis urged Indonesia to stay as much as its promise of “harmony in diversity” and battle spiritual intolerance as he set a rigorous tempo for an 11-day, four-nation journey by means of tropical Southeast Asia and Oceania.
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Gregorio Borgia/AP
“We live a happy Catholic life in Indonesia, but there is sometimes discrimination when we go out to Mass and go to pray,” mentioned Saddam Husein Pareto, an Indonesian Catholic who lives on the border with East Timor.
Catholics make up round 3% of Indonesia’s inhabitants.
Throughout a tour of the Istiqlal Mosque, Francis was proven the Tunnel of Friendship, which connects to a close-by cathedral. The pope praised the underpass as a logo of how religions can stay aspect by aspect.
Worshipers maintain a portray as they look forward to Pope Francis outdoors the Cathedral of Our Woman of the Assumption, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday.
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Achmad Ibrahim/AP
“He [Francis] actually wants some deep, meaningful engagement,” mentioned Joel Hodge, a lecturer in theology on the Australian Catholic College.
“He’s prioritized that, particularly with the Islamic world, because of how large it is and how important it is within the global context,” Hodge mentioned.
Francis will depart Indonesia on Friday, heading to Papua Guinea on the following leg of the tour. He will even cease in East Timor and Singapore.
It’s the longest period of time that Francis, 87, has ever spent away from the Vatican and marks his first abroad journey of the 12 months. The length and scale of the tour has shocked some given his latest well being points.
“It’s a long distance for a Pope who’s quite frail. He’s 87 and he’s not in the best of health,” mentioned Hodge. “He’s making a real statement here about the importance of Asia to the Church.”
Francis has visited the area on plenty of events, embarking on journeys to international locations together with Japan, South Korea and Mongolia.
“Part of Pope Francis’ vision is to make the shift to really emphasize the global nature of the church, and have the church think more globally, not just in a European way,” mentioned Hodge.
The pull of the pontiff has been on full show in Indonesia, with big crowds lining the streets forward of each engagement.
The Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar (left) bids farewell to Pope Francis, as he leaves after signing the “Joint Declaration of Istiqlal 2024” on the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Thursday.
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Dionisius Windarto, an Indonesian Catholic, mentioned he obtained messages from associates who had been “excited to see what the pope looks like and what he wants to say about Indonesia.”
The pope has additionally shunned luxuries throughout his time within the Southeast Asian nation. He flew to Jakarta on a industrial flight and is staying within the Vatican’s Embassy in Jakarta, quite than an opulent lodge.
“It’s quite a contradiction with our current leaders,” mentioned Windarto.
