Pope Francis appealed for religious unity to counter extremism and intolerance, as the longest tour of the 87-year-old’s papacy got into full swing in the Muslim-majority country.
On the first full day of his four-nation trip to the Asia-Pacific, the pontiff yesterday zeroed in on the role all faiths can play on flashpoint security issues.
“In order to foster a peaceful and fruitful harmony that ensures peace ... the Church desires to strengthen inter-religious dialogue,” the pope said in a speech after meeting President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
“(Extremists) through the distortion of religion attempt to impose their views by using deception and violence”.
The pope also said self-interest was preventing the religious unity he had called for, and was driving wars around the world, without referring to a specific one.
“In various regions we see the emergence of violent conflicts, which are often the result ... of the intolerant desire to let one’s own interests, one’s own position, or one’s historical narrative prevail at all costs,” he said.
Jokowi echoed the pope’s remarks.
Francis greeting the faithful outside the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in Jakarta, ahead of his meeting with bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons, seminarians and catechists in Jakarta.
“Freedom and tolerance is what Indonesia, together with the Vatican want, to spread ... in the midst of an increasingly turbulent world,” he said.
Indonesia, which is the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, has long struggled with militancy.
Bombings on the resort island of Bali in 2002 that killed 202 people were the deadliest in Indonesian history and led to a crackdown on militancy.
Catholics represent fewer than 3% of the population of Indonesia – about eight million people, compared with the 87%, or 242 million, who are Muslim.
But they are one of six officially recognised religions or denominations in the nominally secular nation, including Protestantism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Confucianism.
The trip to Indonesia is the third ever by a pope and the first since John Paul II in 1989.
The pope’s fragile health is set to be tested on the trip, which will also take in Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore.
He had not travelled abroad since visiting Marseille in France in September last year.
Accompanying him to Indonesia are his personal doctor and two nurses, but Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said that was standard procedure.
The pontiff appeared refreshed when he arrived in Jakarta from Rome on Tuesday, and again when he met Jokowi yesterday morning in the first major set piece of his tour.
He arrived in a civilian Toyota car, sitting in the front passenger seat before getting out in a wheelchair to greet spectators.
Hundreds of children wearing traditional costumes screamed, shouting “welcome pope” and waving flags.
He was greeted by Jokowi and Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, the country’s president-elect who will take office next month.
The pontiff got out of his wheelchair using a cane for talks with the Indonesian leader.
As he left the palace, dozens waiting outside tried to chase his car.
The pope was later scheduled to hold a private meeting with members of the Society of Jesus – the Jesuit order to which he belongs – at the Holy See’s mission in Jakarta.
Interfaith ties are the central theme of his Indonesia leg.
He is due to host a meeting today with representatives from all six religions at the Istiqlal Mosque, the largest in South-East Asia and a symbol of religious co-existence.
He will sign a joint declaration with the mosque’s grand imam focusing on “dehumanisation” through the spread of conflict, as well as environmental degradation, according to the Indonesian bishops’ conference.
The pope will also host a Mass at the country’s 80,000 national football stadium today, which Catholics are expected to pack out.
In a sign of solidarity, the religious affairs ministry has called on TV stations to not run daily Muslim dusk prayer videos during the Mass, and use text reminders instead. — AFP
More photos
Francis shaking hands with Jokowi during his apostolic visit to Asia at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta.
Nuns waiting for the arrival of Francis at the cathedral.
Children preparing for the welcoming ceremony ahead of the pope’s arrival at the cathedral.
