Pope Francis calls on Indonesian leaders to combat religious extremism
- In Reports
- 09:04 PM, Sep 04, 2024
- Myind Staff
On September 4th, Pope Francis called on political leaders in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, to protect against religious extremism, which he described as distorting people's beliefs through "deception and violence." During the first full day of his longest-ever overseas trip, which includes nine days in Southeast Asia where Christians are a minority, the Pope met with local Catholics. He urged them to practice their faith without imposing it on others.
In a speech to Indonesia's political leaders, Pope Francis announced that the Catholic Church would intensify its efforts in inter-religious dialogue to combat extremism. Speaking at Jakarta's presidential palace, the 87-year-old pontiff emphasised that such dialogue is essential for overcoming prejudices and fostering a climate of mutual respect and trust. He stressed that addressing common challenges, including combating extremism and intolerance—which often distort religion to impose their views through deception and violence—requires mutual understanding and cooperation.
Approximately 87% of Indonesia's 280 million people are Muslim. The country's constitution guarantees freedom of religion. Although there have been instances of Islamist violence in recent years, such as suicide bombings in 2021 and 2022 linked to an Islamic State-inspired group, religious extremism has generally decreased since a series of high-profile attacks two decades ago. Notably, the 2002 Bali bombing, which claimed 202 lives, including 88 Australians, marked a significant peak in such violence.
Indonesia's President Joko Widodo, who has been in office for 10 years, expressed gratitude to Pope Francis for his appeals for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict. In his welcoming speech, Widodo stated, "Indonesia appreciates the Vatican's stance and ongoing calls for peace."
The Pope, who experiences knee and back pain, used a wheelchair as he exited his car and greeted President Widodo outside the presidential palace. In his public remarks, Pope Francis did not address any specific violent incidents but spoke broadly about extremism, intolerance, and the manipulation of religion. He noted, "There are times when faith in God is ... sadly manipulated to foment divisions and increase hatred instead of fostering peace, communion, dialogue, respect, cooperation, and fraternity."
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi mentioned that during their meeting, Francis and Widodo did not discuss the Gaza war in detail but focused on broader issues of ongoing conflicts and the critical importance of peace.
Pope Francis later visited local Catholics at Jakarta's cathedral, where an enthusiastic crowd of hundreds, including a young child dressed in a pope outfit, gathered outside to see him. Inside the church, children played the angklung, a traditional bamboo instrument, while awaiting the Pope's arrival.
Seated at the back of the cathedral beneath a teak wood ceiling, Francis listened to brief testimonies from four Indonesian Catholics.
During his speech, the Pope made several spontaneous additions and jokes. He lauded Indonesia’s cultural diversity and emphasised that following the Church's teachings does not involve imposing faith or opposing others’ beliefs.
Francis will depart Indonesia on Friday, continuing his journey to Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore, and will return to Rome on September 13. On Thursday, he is scheduled to participate in an inter-religious meeting at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Southeast Asia's largest mosque.
Image source: Reuters
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