Pope Francis began his historic tour of Asia by making a formal pledge with the grand imam of Southeast Asia’s largest mosque to take a united stand against religious violence and environmental destruction.
The new initiative, named The Istiqlal Declaration after the mosque in which it was established, was signed by the pontiff and Imam Nasaruddin Umar during a gathering in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.
The highlight of the meeting was the ‘Tunnel of Friendship, a passage connecting the mosque to the nearby Catholic cathedral, a symbol of Indonesia’s commitment to religious freedom.
The Istiqlal Declaration calls for religious harmony and urgent action to protect the environment. It asserts that faith should never be used to justify violence, instead urging religions to work together to resolve conflicts and uphold human dignity.
It also addresses the growing climate crisis, blaming human actions for devastating environmental damage.
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It reads: “The human exploitation of creation has contributed to climate change. This ongoing environmental crisis has become an obstacle to the harmonious coexistence of peoples.”
This is the first visit to the world’s most populous Muslim country by a Pope since John Paul II in 1989.
The 87-year-old pontiff also met with representatives of Indonesia’s six officially recognized religions: Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Catholicism, and Protestantism.
The meeting with Imam Umar began with Kayla Nur Syahwa, a visually impaired Indonesian teenager, reciting Quranic verses about tolerance. During the gathering, Francis and Umar exchanged blessings.
As Francis prepared to leave in his wheelchair, Umar knelt and kissed his head, a gesture that Francis returned by grasping Umar’s hand and holding it to his cheek.
Gregorio Borgia/AP
Pope Francis emphasized the role of different faiths in promoting peace. “We all have a role to play in helping everyone pass through the tunnels of life with our eyes turned toward the light,” he said.
Imam Umar reminded the gathering of Istiqlal Mosque’s inclusive history, noting that the mosque was designed by a Christian architect and functions as a place of education and community for all people, regardless of faith.
Although Catholics make up only about 3 percent of Indonesia’s population of 275 million, the country is home to the world’s largest Catholic seminary and remains a vital source of priests and nuns for the global church.
“We hope and believe that humanity is one, so anyone can enter and benefit,” he said.
Francis’ visit to Indonesia comes at a time when the nation has faced rising incidents of religious intolerance.
Amnesty International reported 123 cases of religious discrimination from January 2021 to July 2024, including attacks on worship spaces and faith communities.
Francis will conclude his visit to Indonesia with a Mass at Jakarta’s stadium, where a crowd of 60,000 is expected.
On Friday, he will continue his journey to Papua New Guinea, followed by stops in East Timor and Singapore, as he completes one of the longest trips of his papacy.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
