Green Pontiff participates in inter-religious meeting in Asia's largest eco-friendly mosque
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Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, have signed a joint declaration vowing to fight climate change and religious violence, at the climax of an inter-religious meeting at Asia's largest mosque.
The Istiqlal Declaration, named after Jakarta's iconic mosque, pledges to combat "the global phenomenon of dehumanization" characterized primarily by religious violence and "climate change," which it describes as the "two serious crises" facing our world today.
Pope Francis and Grand Imam Dr. Nasaruddin Umar signed the joint declaration titled "Strengthening Interfaith Harmony for Humanity" on Thursday at the Istiqlal Mosque appealing "to all people of good will to take decisive action to safeguard the integrity of the environment and its resources."
"What is more alarming is that religion is often used as a tool" of violence and conflict which "often results in an alarming number of victims," the declaration notes, stressing that "the role of religion should include enhancing and maintaining the dignity of every human life."
"Since there is one human family throughout the world, interfaith dialogue must be recognized as an effective means to resolve local, regional and international conflicts, especially conflicts triggered by the misuse of religion," the 400-word declaration stresses.
INTERFAITH MEETING
Francis met with representatives of the six religions that are officially recognized in Indonesia under the policy of Pancasila: Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Catholicism and Protestantism.
The bond between the Catholic pontiff and the Muslim imam was reflected in a touching gesture of affection when Umar bent down and kissed Francis on the head. In response, Francis grasped Umar's hand, kissed it and held it to his cheek.
The pope and the grand imam market a symbolic moment standing at the ground level entrance to the "Tunnel of Friendship," an underpass which connects the mosque compound with the neighboring Catholic cathedral, Our Lady of the Assumption.
Francis said that the tunnel was "a place of dialogue and encounter," explaining to interfaith leaders that while tunnels are often thought of as dark places, "Here it is different, for everything is illuminated," he said, commending the leaders as "the light that illuminates it."
"You do so by your friendship, by the harmony you cultivate, the support you give each other, and by journeying together, which leads you in the end towards the fullness of light," Francis added.
CLIMATE CHANGE IMAM
Like Francis, Umar is known for his climate change activism in Indonesia and around the Islamic world. The environment is a central theme in the sermons. The Grand Imam says he is simply following the Muhammad's instructions that Muslims should take care of nature.
Shocked by astronomical utility bills, Umar retrofitted the Istiqlal mosque with solar panels, slow-flow faucets and a water recycling system; efforts that were rewarded by the World Bank's International Finance Corporation granting it a green building certificate.
Nasaruddin said installing 500 solar panels has lowered the mosque's power bill by 25%. With slow-flow faucets and a water recycling system, worshipers use far less water to cleanse themselves before prayers.
Unique in the Islamic world, Indonesia's national mosque has become a flagship institution promoting interfaith harmony, environmental sustainability, and religious scholarship with a global perspective under Umar's leadership, who is a presidential appointment.
Earlier in March, Umar completed a six-week intensive fellowship with the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS); engaging in academic study, visiting synagogues, and participating in inter-religious dialogues across the United States.
Among others, the Grand Imam met with Cdl. Timothy Dolan and Abp. José Gomez, heads of the archdioceses of New York and Los Angeles.
Former US Vice President Mike Pence visited the Istiqlal Mosque in 2017, praising its moderate Islam as "an inspiration" and taking off his shoes before being guided by Grand Imam Umar around the mosque, accompanied by his wife and two daughters in headscarves.
Pence later held an interfaith dialogue behind closed doors with representatives of the Christian, Buddhist, Confucian, Hindu and Muslim faiths.
CHRISTIANITY IN INDONESIA
While Indonesia is home to the world's largest single Muslim community, Christians number around 11% of the population. The remaining Indonesians mostly identify as Hindu, Buddhist or Confucian.
Christians, however, account for a larger percentage of elected officials. About 15% of representatives to the House of Representatives, known as the DPR, are Christian, according to official government profiles from 2023.
An overwhelming majority of Muslims (86%) say it is very important to be Muslim to be truly Indonesian, according to a Pew Research 2022 survey. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of Muslims also favor making sharia the official law of the land.
While the country's constitution guarantees Indonesians the right to choose their own religion and the freedom to worship according to their own beliefs, every Indonesian adult must list a religion on their national identity card.
Indonesia has enforced anti-blasphemy laws against its citizens, including Jakarta's former governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, an ethnic Chinese Christian, who was jailed for two years in 2017 after being found guilty of blasphemy against Islam.
According to Jesuit historian, Adolf Heuken, the first Christians arrived in the seventh century and established a community in Northern Sumatra.
Editor's note: Discover the power and the glory of the Catholic Church
in this updated and expanded history.
Dr. Jules Gomes, (BA, BD, MTh, PhD), has a doctorate in biblical studies from the University of Cambridge. Currently a Vatican-accredited journalist based in Rome, he is the author of five books and several academic articles. Gomes lectured at Catholic and Protestant seminaries and universities and was canon theologian and artistic director at Liverpool Cathedral.
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