By: Agung Wira Tama)*
The arrival of Pope Francis to Indonesia is a moment that is highly anticipated by all levels of society, not only for Catholics but also by all religious communities in Indonesia. This visit is not just a spiritual journey, but an important step to strengthen religious moderation, strengthen tolerance, and foster brotherhood between religious communities in Indonesia.
In his meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the State Palace in Jakarta, Wednesday (4/9), the President expressed his gratitude to the Leader of the World Catholic Church and Head of State of the Vatican. Jokowi thanked Pope Francis for accepting the invitation to visit Indonesia.
Initially, Jokowi said that Indonesia welcomed Pope Francis’ arrival with joy and warmth. Jokowi admitted that he heard that this was the longest flight that Pope Francis had ever taken. Jokowi said that Pope Francis’ visit had a very strong message regarding the importance of the meaning of differences. Where, said Jokowi, Indonesia consists of various ethnicities.
The presence of Pope Francis in Indonesia is considered a historic moment for all religious communities, not only for Catholics but also by all religious communities in Indonesia. This visit is not only a spiritual journey, but an important step in strengthening religious moderation, strengthening tolerance, and fostering brotherhood between religious communities in Indonesia.
Pope Francis is the third Catholic leader to visit Indonesia. The trip was originally planned for 2020, but was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic that hit several regions in the world.
While in Indonesia, Pope Francis has an agenda to visit the Istiqlal Mosque and hold dialogues and meet with a number of figures from Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Catholicism, and Protestantism, including the Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque, Nasaruddin Umar.
Nasaruddin emphasized that the presence of Pope Francis is real evidence of the tolerance that has been built between the Istiqlal Mosque and the Cathedral Church. According to him, the Istiqlal Mosque is a real symbol of harmony, because it is connected by a Silaturahmi Tunnel as a strong symbol of interfaith tolerance.
Meanwhile, Wahid Institute Director Yenny Wahid assessed that Pope Francis’ meeting with interfaith figures in the Silaturahmi Tunnel connecting the Istiqlal Mosque and the Cathedral Church will be a great symbol for the world. According to her, the Indonesian state, the Indonesian people have the initiative to find common ground, find meeting spaces, one of the symbols is the Silaturahmi Tunnel connecting the Istiqlal Mosque and the Cathedral.
Yenny added, it is also worth knowing that the architect of the Istiqlal Mosque building was someone with a Christian faith. This means that there are already many symbols of pluralism, symbols of extraordinary tolerance in Indonesia, and the moment the Pope is in Indonesia, it feels necessary to be a kind of spirit reformer to ensure that the rights of minorities in Indonesia are truly respected.
As a country with a Muslim majority, Indonesia has a responsibility to demonstrate tolerance and peace between religions. Istiqlal Mosque, as a symbol of this spirit, always tries to show the face of Islam that is inclusive and full of love.
Pope Francis wants to increase interfaith dialogue in various regions of the country. Pope Francis said it was done to strengthen harmony and eliminate inequality. The Pope hopes this method can foster trust and mutual respect, which can fight extremism and intolerance.
During his visit to the Palace, Pope Francis also gave advice that respecting and listening to each other is a form of supporting fraternity. The Pope wishes to strengthen cooperation with state institutions. The Catholic Church works to serve the common good and wishes to strengthen cooperation with various state institutions and other actors in civil society, encouraging the formation of a more balanced social structure and ensuring a more efficient and equitable distribution of social assistance.
The meaning of Pope Francis’ visit to Indonesia is to bring a message so that humans can get to know each other. Pope Francis has given an example to get to know everyone, to get to know those of different religions, ethnicities, tribes, and others.
The arrival of Pope Francis to Indonesia is also a valuable momentum to strengthen tolerance and brotherhood between religious communities. Through this visit, the Indonesian people can further strengthen their commitment to maintaining religious moderation and tolerance.
The Pope wants to see firsthand how Indonesia can realize religious tolerance in everyday life. Indonesia is an example of a country where religious communities can live side by side in harmony. Religion can be a tool to unite, not divide, and messages of peace and unity will be heard more strongly, not only in Indonesia but also throughout the world.
The presence of the Pope in Indonesia is not only a step to strengthen diplomacy between the two countries, but also a form of tolerance between religious communities. Collaboration across religions and cultures is the key to realizing sustainable peace. Collaboration in diversity is one of Indonesia’s greatest strengths.
The Pope’s visit should be used to strengthen tolerance education in Indonesia. Through education, the values of tolerance can be instilled early on in the younger generation. This is important to ensure that these values will continue to be inherited and applied in everyday life.
It is hoped that the Pope’s visit will also advocate for a better world, where humanity and social justice are upheld. We can be more accepting of each other, more tolerant, able to live side by side, and not in conflict.
For Indonesia, this is a golden opportunity to strengthen its image as a country that upholds the values of tolerance and peace. With the support of various religious figures, community leaders, and all elements of the nation, it is hoped that Indonesia will become more inclusive and peaceful. With close cooperation between religious communities, Indonesia will continue to be an example for the world in realizing harmony amidst diversity.
)* Observer of socio-cultural issues
