Pope Francis, in Muslim-majority Indonesia, warns against religious extremism
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Pope Francis' speech came on his first working day of the trip to South-east Asia and the Pacific.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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JAKARTA - Pope Francis on Sept 4 urged political leaders in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, to guard against religious extremism, which he said distorted people’s religious beliefs through “deception and violence”.
In his first speech during an ambitious 12-day journey across South-east Asia,
“In this way, prejudices can be eliminated, and a climate of mutual respect and trust can grow,” the 87-year-old Pope said in an address to some 300 politicians and religious leaders at Jakarta’s Merdeka presidential palace.
“This is indispensable for meeting common challenges, including that of countering extremism and intolerance, which through the distortion of religion attempt to impose their views by using deception and violence,” said Pope Francis.
Indonesia has a population of about 280 million people and is estimated to be about 87 per cent Muslim. Freedom of religion is guaranteed in the country’s Constitution.
There have been several incidents of extremist violence in the country in recent years, including suicide bomb attacks in 2021 and 2022 by individuals affiliated with the Islamic State-inspired group Jamaah Ansharut Daulah.
The 2021 incident took place just before the Christian Easter holiday, and wounded at least 19 people.
In his own speech welcoming the Pope to Indonesia, President Joko Widodo thanked Pope Francis for his efforts to call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war.
“Indonesia appreciates the Vatican’s attitude which continues to voice (and) call for peace in Palestine, and supports a two-state solution,” said Mr Widodo, who is stepping down in October after 10 years in office.
Pope Francis was greeted by crowds waving small Vatican and Indonesian flags as his car arrived at the presidential palace.
Dorothea Dawai, a school child aged 10, was among the group welcoming the Pope. Wearing a green kebaya, a traditional Indonesian dress, she said she hoped to ask for a blessing.
The pontiff, who suffers from knee and back pain, was seated in a wheelchair as he left his car, and met the President outside the building. The two leaders were saluted by an honour guard playing the Indonesian and Vatican anthems, before going inside for a private meeting.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told journalists that Pope Francis and Mr Widodo had not spoken specifically about the Israel-Gaza war in their meeting, but more generally about ongoing conflicts and “the importance of peace”.
In his public remarks, Pope Francis did not mention any specific violent incidents, but made several references to extremism, intolerance and manipulation of religion.
“There are times when faith in God is... sadly manipulated to foment divisions and increase hatred instead of furthering peace, communion, dialogue, respect, cooperation and fraternity,” said the pontiff.
Pope Francis also joked about Indonesia’s birth rate, echoing previous comments he has made about people who choose having pets over children.
“In your country, people make three, four or five children, that’s an example for every country, while some prefer to only have a cat or a little dog. This can’t go well,” he said, making Mr Widodo laugh.
He also met Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, the country’s president-elect who takes office in October.
As the Pope left the palace, dozens waiting outside tried to chase his car.
Pope Francis’ speech came on his first working day of his trip to South-east Asia and the Pacific, which will also include stops in Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore.
He is set to travel some 33,000km on the 12 days of the tour, before he arrives back in Rome on Sept 13.
Later on Sept 4, he is due to meet Indonesia’s Catholic bishops at Jakarta’s cathedral. On Sept 5, he will take part in an interreligious meeting at the Istiqlal Mosque, the largest mosque in South-east Asia. REUTERS, AFP
