Pope Francis' Visit Strengthens Global Peace Commitment

Pope Francis' visit to Indonesia on 3-6 September has emphasized the messages of interreligious tolerance, unity, and global peace.

IDXChannel - Pope Francis' visit to Indonesia on 3-6 September has emphasized the messages of interreligious tolerance, unity, and global peace amidst the heightened tension in several parts of the world.

"Pope Francis called for world peace, declaring that war is a defeat for all humanity. He also expressed admiration for Indonesian youth, stressing the importance of education in teaching children to appreciate diversity," the Indonesian Foreign Ministry said in a media release.

"Pope Francis praised Indonesia's diversity under the motto of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity). He also hoped that Indonesia is committed to implement the principle of social justice as enshrined in the preamble of the 1945 Constitution, and that this principle serves as a foundation for the international order," the Ministry said.

During his visit, Pope Francis was welcomed by Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar at the Istiqlal Mosque. The two leaders signed the 2024 Istiqlal Joint Declaration: Fostering Religious Harmony for the Sake of Humanity with other religious figures in Indonesia the Declaration underscored the vital role of religion in addressing dehumanization and climate change. The Pope also visited the front section of Silaturahmi Tunnel, which connects Istiqlal Mosque and Jakarta Cathedral, symbolizing religious harmony in Indonesia.

The visit was closed with the holy mass at Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium, attended by over 80,000 Catholics from across Indonesia. 

Indonesia and Vatican have a long-standing relationship, marked by the establishment of the Vatican's Apostolic Delegate in Jakarta in 1947. To this day, Vatican remains a strategic partner for Indonesia in advocating for peaceful conflict resolution, promoting interfaith harmony, and collaborating on global challenges.

"Pope Francis' visit, as the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church, provided a special opportunity to reaffirm the values of tolerance and unity in Indonesia. This visit also highlighted Indonesia's role as a model of interreligious harmony for the world," the Ministry said.

This visit by Pope Francis is the third after Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II visited Indonesia in 1970 and 1989, respectively. Indonesia is the first country in the Asia-Ocenia tour, with the Pope scheduled to continue his journey to Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, and Singapore. (Wahyu Dwi Anggoro)