Pope Francis, during his historic visit to Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta – the largest mosque in Southeast Asia, emphasized the importance of religious unity and environmental stewardship as a common cause that could unite nations globally. Situated in the heart of Indonesia’s capital city, this mosque stands as a symbol of not only Islamic faith but also Indonesia’s multi-religious and multi-ethnic landscape.
In a unique expression of interfaith solidarity, the Pope’s first-ever visit to a Muslim-majority country, saw him delivering a striking message to the attendees: The battle against climate change and religious extremism must be seen as a common cause that transcends borders and faiths.
Indonesia, a country that hosts the world’s largest population of Muslims, has on occasion, been a victim of religious extremism. Pope Francis, during his speech at the mosque, called for unity among all religions in denouncing these acts of violence. Terror in the name of religion, is terror against religion, he proclaimed, underscoring the need for a united front in the battle against religious extremism.
Religious leaders from various Indonesian faith communities were present at the occasion, showcasing a poignant tableau of interfaith harmony. It’s noteworthy that Indonesia, despite religious diversity, has robust traditions and mechanisms for interfaith dialogue.
The Pope, known for his global advocacy for environmental sustainability, stressed that battling climate change must be understood as a key area of common cause. As a nation made up of thousands of islands, Indonesia stands at the frontline of the battle against climate change. Rising sea levels and increasing natural disasters threaten the lives and livelihoods of millions of Indonesians.
The pontiff asserted that religious voices are crucial for our planet’s survival. He argued that religions, with their moral influence, can shape attitudes towards the environment and help foster sustainable habits. The Pope notably upholds the idea that both the challenges of religion and environment should be tackled together, given their shared moral dimensions.
In his visit to the Istiqlal Mosque, the Pope’s strong emphasis on environmental awareness resonated well with the Islamic principles of stewardship of the earth. Like many religions, Islam also considers looking after the environment a sacred duty.
The unprecedented papal visit to Southeast Asia’s largest mosque underlines the emerging international consensus on two key issues that define our time – climate change and extremism. It highlights the immense potential of interfaith engagement to rally diverse societies toward shared values and mutual goals. The Pope’s twin emphases, marrying the need for religious unity with tackling climate change, provides us a salient roadmap in these troubled times. The Istiqlal Mosque visit encapsulates a historic moment where the Pope’s message to the attendees is not only aimed at Indonesia but serves a greater humanitarian and global environmental goal.
In the grand arc of the Pope’s teaching and advocacy, this visit to the Heart of Islam in Southeast Asia, reminds us that we are all in this together. The struggles against both climate change and extremism require collective action and shared advocacy. It flags a vital message that our faiths might be different, our religious practices distinctive, but we need to come together to preserve our shared home, the Earth, and stand against violence in all its manifestations.
