On the final day of his three-day visit to Indonesia, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of using religion to promote peace and understanding, rather than fueling conflict.
At the Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta, the largest mosque in Southeast Asia, the Pope signed a declaration on religious harmony and environmental protection alongside the mosque’s grand imam.
He also met with leaders of six local religions, highlighting the need for unity and cooperation.
The 87-year-old Pope, who began his 11-day Asia Pacific tour on Tuesday, emphasized that people from different religions are “all brothers, all pilgrims, all on our way to God, beyond what differentiates us.”
He warned that humanity faces a “serious crisis” due to war, conflict, and environmental destruction.
During his visit, Pope Francis also visited a tunnel connecting the Istiqlal mosque to a nearby Catholic cathedral, symbolizing the potential for people of different beliefs to come together.
He praised Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, for its diversity and harmony, and encouraged the nation to continue living up to its promise of “harmony in diversity.”
The Pope’s visit to Indonesia, where only 3% of the population is Catholic, marked the beginning of his tour of the Asia Pacific region, which will also take him to Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, and Singapore.
Despite health concerns, the Pope has been actively engaging with crowds and Church leaders, underscoring the growing importance of the region for the Catholic Church.
