By: Rika Prasatya)*
Pope Francis’ visit to Indonesia is a historic moment that radiates the light of hope and togetherness in diversity. The Pope, as the spiritual leader of Catholics around the world, visited Indonesia with a message of peace and harmony that resonates with the spirit of the nation’s diversity. This visit not only strengthens the relationship between the Catholic Church and other religious communities, but also underlines Indonesia’s position as a miniature of harmony in global diversity.
Indonesia, with its more than 270 million people of various ethnicities, religions and cultures, has long been recognized as an example of harmonious diversity. Despite social challenges and conflicts, Indonesia has demonstrated a remarkable ability to forge unity amidst differences. Pope Francis’ visit to the country is a recognition and support of Indonesia’s efforts to preserve and celebrate diversity.
Pope Francis, known for his inclusive and peaceful approach, chose Indonesia as one of the destinations in his series of visits to Southeast Asia. The visit is part of the Pope’s efforts to strengthen interfaith dialogue and advocate for peace in a region that often experiences tensions between religious communities. Pope Francis, who often speaks of the importance of harmony and solidarity, used his visit to convey the message that differences are not obstacles, but rather forces that can unite humanity.
During his visit to Indonesia, Pope Francis met with President Jokowi at the State Palace and visited the Cathedral Church and the Istiqlal Mosque. The Pope’s meeting with bishops, priests, monks and nuns, daikon, seminarians, and catechists, was opened with a speech by the Chairman of the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference (KWI), Mgr. Antonius Subianto Bunyamin. In his speech, the Pope emphasized the importance of faith, brotherhood and compassion in life as Catholics.
According to the Pope, these three virtues express well the journey of Indonesian Catholics as a church and as part of the ethnically and culturally diverse Indonesian nation. Regarding faith, Pope Francis emphasized that Indonesia is a country rich in natural resources. At first glance, he said, this wealth could make Indonesia arrogant. However, this wealth can also be a reminder of God’s presence in the universe and in human life.
During his visit, Pope Francis will conduct several important activities. He will hold a grand mass at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium (GBK) which will be attended by more than 80 thousand Catholics from all over Indonesia. On each occasion, the Pope will convey a message about the importance of mutual respect and cooperation in building a peaceful and inclusive society.
Meanwhile, Grand Imam of Istiqlal Nasaruddin Umar said that he and Pope Francis were scheduled to meet at the Istiqlal Mosque on Thursday to discuss peace. The meeting will also be followed by the signing of a declaration covering two important points, namely the issue of dehumanization and the issue of the environment. The signing of the agreement was witnessed by interfaith figures on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ visit to the silaturahmi tunnel.
According to him, this meeting is committed to promoting world peace considering that Pope Francis always preaches about peace on every occasion. This peace is also desired by other religious leaders. The theme of peace and tolerance is a central issue. He also mentioned that there are great universal religious aspects attached to the Pope that are not far from the vision of the majority of Muslims. Nasaruddin said that the Pope’s visit to Istiqlal was also to visit the silaturahmi tunnel that connects the Istiqlal Mosque and the Cathedral Church.
Although Indonesia has shown much progress in terms of harmony, challenges remain. Social conflict, intolerance, and radicalization are issues that must be addressed. In this context, Pope Francis’ visit provides a moral and spiritual impetus to counter extremism and strengthen the commitment to tolerance.
Through the declaration, Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque hope that the public will understand the importance of a religious approach in caring for and preserving the environment and promoting world peace.
Pope Francis stressed the importance of education and dialogue in addressing these challenges. He called on people not only to respect differences but also to actively engage in building bridges between different groups. His message was that harmony comes not only from understanding but also from proactive action in creating spaces for all to feel accepted and valued.
Pope Francis reminds us that harmony is not something automatic, but requires continuous effort from all parties. This message is in line with the spirit of Pancasila, the ideology of the Indonesian state, which emphasizes the principles of unity in diversity.
Pope Francis’ visit to Indonesia is a concrete manifestation of the recognition of Indonesia’s commitment to harmony and diversity. With his message of peace and inclusiveness, the Pope underlines that harmony is not only an ideal, but also a reality that can be achieved through joint efforts. Indonesia, as a miniature of harmony in diversity, offers valuable lessons on how differences can be used as a strength to create a harmonious and peaceful society. This visit is not only a celebration, but also an invitation to continue working towards a more inclusive and tolerant world.
)* The author is a contributor to the Indonesian Strategic Information Study Institute