During his final day in Indonesia, Pope Francis joined Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar for a significant interreligious meeting at Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque. Together, they signed a joint declaration, calling on religious leaders to tackle pressing global issues like dehumanization and climate change. This event, centered around promoting interfaith harmony, highlighted Indonesia’s peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Catholics.

The Pope first visited the symbolic “Tunnel of Friendship,” which connects the Istiqlal Mosque with the Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Assumption. This tunnel underscores Indonesia’s commitment to fostering interfaith relations. During the event, the Grand Imam described the mosque as a place where all humanity is welcome.

Pope Francis emphasized that religious traditions can help societies overcome the challenges of modern life. He urged Muslims and Catholics to continue fostering mutual respect and dialogue, advocating for deeper connections beyond just common beliefs. Both leaders focused on the idea that unity arises from respecting and defending each other’s beliefs while working towards shared goals like protecting human dignity, eradicating poverty, and promoting peace.

The culmination of this interreligious encounter was the signing of the Istiqlal Declaration, a document addressing the global crises of climate change and dehumanization. Both leaders agreed that religious dialogue should be critical in resolving conflicts, reinforcing the importance of interfaith unity to address global challenges.

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Pope Francis and Indonesian Grand Imam call for inter-religious action to fight ‘climate change’

Image: Wikimedia Commons

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