“Let no one succumb to the fascination of fundamentalism and violence,” said Pope Francis at the Independence Mosque in Jakarta, the largest in Asia. The pope’s visit to Indonesia is ongoing. The temple can accommodate 120,000 people.
Pope Francis and the Grand Imam /ADITYA AJI / POOL /PAP/EPA
In a speech delivered at the Istiqlal Mosque on Merdeka Square, the Pope noted that the competition for the design of the temple was won by the Christian Friedrich Silaban. He added that this testifies to the fact that in the history of the Indonesian nation and its culture, the mosque, like other places of worship, “is a space for dialogue, mutual respect, harmonious coexistence of religions and different spiritual sensibilities.”
This is a great gift that you must cultivate every day, so that religious experience may be a point of reference for a fraternal and peaceful society, and never a reason for closure and discord.
In this way, Francis said, it is possible to contribute to building “open societies, based on mutual respect and mutual love, capable of eliminating rigorism, fundamentalism and extremism, which are always dangerous and can never be justified.”
It’s not just about mutual courtesy, something formal, no! It’s more about a shared path of friendship – he explained.
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During the meeting, Francis signed a declaration with the grand imam of the mosque, the aim of which – as emphasized in its title – is to “promote religious harmony for the good of humanity.”
In it, we take up with responsibility the serious and sometimes dramatic crises that threaten the future of humanity, in particular wars and conflicts, unfortunately also fueled by religious instrumentalization, but also the environmental crisis, which has become an obstacle to the development and coexistence of nations, he declared.
The Pope stressed the need to help societies “overcome the culture of violence and indifference”, as stated in the Istiqlal Joint Declaration.
He added, addressing the Indonesians: “And if it is true that you are the hosts of the largest gold mine in the world, know that the most precious treasure is the will for differences not to become a cause of conflict, but to harmonize in agreement and mutual respect.”
Let no one be fascinated by fundamentalism and violence, but rather let everyone be fascinated by the dream of a free, fraternal and peaceful society and humanity, he appealed.
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An event with strong symbolic significance was the visit of the Pope and the Grand Imam to the recently constructed underground Friendship Tunnel, connecting the Independence Mosque with the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption standing opposite.
When we think of a tunnel, we easily imagine a dark path that, especially if we are alone, can be frightening. But here it is different, because everything is illuminated, Francis said.
He told the representatives of Christianity and Islam: “You are the light that illuminates it, your friendship, the harmony you cultivate, your mutual support and your common journey.”
To the many signs of danger, to the dark times, we oppose the sign of fraternity, which, by welcoming the other and respecting his identity, encourages him to journey together, undertaken in friendship and leading towards the light, the Pope said.
The interfaith meeting and the signing of the declaration by the Pope and the Grand Imam took place at the mosque in a tent in the colours of the Indonesian flag – red and white.
