Indonesia’s Minister of Religion, Yaqut Cholil Quomas, underscored the importance of interfaith dialogue as Pope Francis began his historic visit to the country, the first by a pontiff in 35 years.
“We are all happy and proud. We are blessed by the presence of Pope Francis in our country, and this is an apostolic visit after 35 years,” Minister Yaqut announced during a press briefing in Jakarta.
Highlighting the Pope’s message delivered shortly after his arrival, Yaqut emphasized that “interfaith dialogue is an important step and is the key to tolerance and world peace.”
The Pope’s visit to Indonesia, a nation known for its Pancasila ideology and its motto Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity), comes at a critical time for global religious relations.
Minister Yaqut reiterated the Pope’s message, calling it a pivotal moment for reinforcing Indonesia’s commitment to peace and harmony among its diverse religious communities.
Following his arrival, Pope Francis is scheduled to meet with President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), where discussions on fostering interfaith dialogue are expected to take center stage.
On September 5, the Pope will participate in an interfaith dialogue at Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque, Southeast Asia’s largest mosque, alongside representatives from Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Catholicism, and Protestantism.
“This is his important message,” Yaqut said, referring to the Pope’s emphasis on dialogue as essential for achieving peace not just globally, but also among individuals.
The visit also includes a symbolic signing of a joint declaration with the Grand Imam of Istiqlal Mosque, Nasaruddin Umar, underscoring the shared commitment of Indonesia’s religious communities to peace and coexistence.