Pope Francis calls for deeper ‘religious harmony’ during interreligious meeting in Indonesia

Pope Francis underlined the importance of fostering religious harmony to protect human dignity, end the cycle of poverty, and promote peace during the third day of his apostolic visit to Indonesia.

The Holy Father was attending an interreligious meeting at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta on September 5.

Speaking to representatives of Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, and Protestantism, he called on them to create closer connections in the midst of adversity to cultivate “bonds of friendship, care, and reciprocity.”

“These relationships link us to others, allowing us to commit ourselves to seek the truth together, learning from the religious tradition of others, and coming together to meet our human and spiritual needs,” he said.

Pope Francis advised them to “always look deeply” to strengthen their unity despite differences in beliefs.

He also invited them to pass on the determination to uphold religious harmony and understanding to young people, which he described as Indonesia’s “most precious treasure.”

“May no one succumb to the allure of fundamentalism and violence. May everyone instead be awestruck by the dream of a free, fraternal, and peaceful society and humanity!” he exclaimed.

Pope Francis’ visit to the largest mosque in Asia was capped off with the signing of the joint document entitled “Fostering Religious Harmony for the Sake of Humanity” with Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar.

The declaration condemns religious-based violence and calls for religious leaders to actively promote human dignity, interreligious dialogue, and environmental protection.

Pope Francis also visited the newly constructed underground tunnel connecting the Istiqlal Mosque to Jakarta’s Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption.

Dubbed the “Tunnel of Friendship,” it was constructed by the Indonesian government as a tangible sign of mutual understanding between Catholics and Muslims.

“This is what the tunnel does: it connects, creating a bond,” he said

“Sometimes we think that a meeting between religions is a matter of seeking common ground between different religious doctrines and beliefs no matter the cost… What really brings us closer is creating a connection in the midst of diversity, cultivating bonds of friendship, care, and reciprocity,” he also said.