Francis co-signs text with imam of Asia’s largest mosque

This Thursday, September 5, in Jakarta (Indonesia), Pope Francis signed a joint declaration with the imam of the largest mosque in Asia against “dehumanization” and “human exploitation of Creation.” It is particularly worrying to note that religion is often instrumentalized (…), causing suffering to many people, especially women, children and the elderly. “, write the Pope and the Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Nasaruddin Umar, in front of which an interreligious meeting took place.

Francis has co-signed this type of call for tolerance several times, such as in 2019 in Abu Dhabi with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al Tayyeb (document on human fraternity). But in Jakarta, where he will end his stay with a giant mass in front of 80,000 people, Francis gave keys to better understand his insistence on dialogue with Islam.

“Taking care of the links”

On Wednesday, September 4, early in the evening, the Pope gave a philosophical response on the importance of harmonizing ” the idea and the reality ” to a young Indonesian, Bryan, who asked him about the ” discriminations » and the « cyberbullying » caused by differences in beliefs.

” Reality is greater than ideasaid Francis, who was addressing 200 young people from the Scholas Occurrentes education movement. If you have the idea on one side and reality on the other, you will be a schizophrenic. The maturity of a person is to think, to feel, to say, to dream, in harmony. Do you know what harmony means? This same phenomenological tone (1) was at the heart, on Thursday, September 5, of the interreligious meeting on the occasion of which the “Istiqlal declaration” was signed.

” It is sometimes thought that the encounter between religions consists of seeking at all costs a common point between different religious doctrines and professions. In reality, it can happen that such an approach ends up dividing us. For the doctrines and dogmas of each religious experience are different, said the Pope before Indonesian Christian and Sunni representatives. What really brings us together is creating a connection between our differences and making sure to cultivate bonds of friendship, attention, and reciprocity.. »

Recalling that the plans for the Great Mosque of Istiqlal were drawn up by a Christian, the architect Friedrich Silaban, Francis gave ” two instructions » to help with dialogue: « take care of links ” And ” always look deep ” The Pope thus continued the metaphor of the 28-meter tunnel, at the entrance of which he presented himself, dug under the road which separates the Muslim place of worship from the cathedral of Jakarta, where he went on September 4.

“In the image of the Prophet”

In front of the Istiqlal Mosque, the participants in the meeting said they were seduced by the papal vision of an interreligious dialogue in actions rather than in sharing concepts. This is what we experience every day in Indonesia, at work and even in our families. “, says Didiek Dukwarmiyadi, 67. This Christian from the province of Jogjakarta, on the island of Java, says that his younger brother has just married a Muslim woman. The priest blessed their union, that’s dialogue. »

” What the Pope said is very important because even if the dialogue (interreligious) exists at a high level, misunderstandings can appear on the ground “, adds Bishop Valentinus Saeng, Bishop of the Diocese of Sanggau, on the island of Borneo.

In Jakarta, a church consecrated in 2023 took 26 years to emerge due to administrative complications. And Indonesia has not been spared from terrorist attacks by groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State. Religious extremism is an influence from the Middle East or elsewhere. In Indonesia, Islam is open, radicalism does not exist “, he defends with The Cross Ahmed Fahrur Rozi, representative of Nahdlatul Ulama, one of the largest religious associations in the country.

” It is important that Muslims hear what the Pope saidjudges Dr. Ali Nurdin, professor of Tafsir (commentary on the Koran) at the University of Jakarta. This could help everyone – Inshallah – to work more for the good of the country.. » Visibly touched, the 54-year-old academic says he considers François as ” a holy man, like the Prophet “.