Pope Francis and a prominent Indonesian imam cautioned against the misuse of religion to incite conflict on Thursday, just before the 87-year-old pontiff was set to conduct mass for tens of thousands at a Jakarta football stadium.
The pope and Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar signed a declaration at Istiqlal Mosque, marking one of the final significant events of Francis's three-day visit to the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, which also kicked off a demanding tour across the Asia-Pacific region. The central theme of the pontiff's trip has been unity among faiths, and the declaration emphasized the need for 'religious harmony for the sake of humanity' at Southeast Asia's largest mosque.
'The global phenomenon of dehumanisation is characterized especially by widespread violence and conflict. It is particularly concerning that religion is often exploited in this context,' the declaration stated. 'The role of religion should encompass promoting and protecting the dignity of every human life.'
In a speech to leaders of Indonesia's six recognized religions—Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism—Francis reiterated a message of unity, stating, 'We are all brothers, all pilgrims, all on our way to God, beyond what differentiates us.'
The pope was greeted at the mosque by a percussion band commonly used in Islamic ceremonies. Once seated, he and Nasaruddin listened to a passage from the Quran recited by a young blind girl and a passage from the Bible. Francis also visited a 'tunnel of friendship' connecting the mosque to Jakarta's cathedral across the street, signing a section of the tunnel.
The declaration also highlighted the environmental crisis as a threat to human civilization and called for 'decisive action' to combat global warming. 'The human exploitation of creation, our common home, has contributed to climate change,' it read. 'Climate change has led to various destructive consequences such as natural disasters, global warming, and unpredictable weather patterns.'
Francis has made several visits to Muslim-majority countries, and in 2019, during a visit to the UAE, he signed a document on human brotherhood with the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Islam's prestigious seat of learning. This trip to Indonesia marks the third visit by a pope and the first since John Paul II in 1989. Catholics represent less than three percent of Indonesia's population—about eight million people, compared to the 87 percent, or 242 million, who are Muslim.
Later, Francis visited the headquarters of the Indonesian Bishops' Conference, where onlookers chanted 'Viva Il Papa!'. However, the highlight of his Indonesia visit will be on Thursday afternoon when he delivers a mass to nearly 80,000 people inside the country's main football stadium, with tens of thousands more expected outside. Devotees arrived at the stadium compound hours early, many wearing pope T-shirts and taking group photos with the massive structure in the background. Indonesia's President Joko Widodo also arrived at the stadium in the afternoon as preparations continued.
The pontiff will arrive for the mass in a tactical vehicle built by an Indonesian state-run defense company. Anastasia Ida Ediati, a 59-year-old notary heading to the stadium with 200 other members of her parish, expressed her joy at the chance to see the pope. 'We Catholics have such a charismatic and humble leader. His visit is especially meaningful for us, as many of us who are older may not have this opportunity again,' she told AFP.
The mass will conclude the pope's Indonesian stopover of a 12-day trip that has tested his fragile health. On Friday, he will travel to Papua New Guinea before visiting East Timor and Singapore, marking the longest tour of his papacy. He had not traveled abroad since visiting Marseille in France in September last year. Accompanying him to Indonesia are his personal doctor and two nurses, which is standard procedure.
