JAKARTA, Indonesia – When Pope Francis begins his tour of Asia next week, one of his first stops will be Indonesia’s famous Istiqlal Mosque.
The 87-year-old head of the Catholic Church will hold an interfaith meeting with representatives of the country’s six officially recognized religions as the populous Southeast Asian country faces growing challenges to its tolerant image.
Francis, who suffers from numerous health problems and is increasingly dependent on a wheelchair, has a tight schedule during his four-country trip. He will begin his journey in Jakarta on September 3, where he will meet with Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
At the Istiqlal Mosque, the Argentine Jesuit, known for promoting religious dialogue, will meet delegates from Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Catholicism and Protestantism. Indonesia’s constitution recognizes the latter two religions as separate religions. About 87 percent of the country’s 280 million inhabitants are Muslims, but the country has the third largest Christian population in Asia after the Philippines and China. Only 2.9 percent of the total population are Catholics.
The mosque of Istiqlal, which means independence in Arabic, is the largest in Southeast Asia and covers 9 hectares. Its name is a constant reminder of the country’s struggle against the Dutch colonialists who ruled it for nearly 350 years. Opposite the mosque is the Roman Catholic neo-Gothic Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in Jakarta. The proximity of the two places of worship symbolizes how religions can coexist peacefully, according to official websites.
The mosque and the cathedral are connected by an underpass, the “Tunnel of Friendship”. It is about 28 metres long and designed in the shape of a handshake, which is intended to symbolise religious tolerance. The Pope is expected to walk through the tunnel.
The Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque, Nasaruddin Umar, told the Associated Press that Francis’ choice of Indonesia as the first stop on his Asian tour “makes the Muslim community proud.” He also said they would use the Pope’s visit “to discuss the commonalities between religious communities and to highlight the similarities between religions, ethnicities and faiths.”
Muslim men perform Friday prayers at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, August 9, 2024. Photo credit: AP/Tatan Syuflana
Umar acknowledged that an “increasingly pluralistic society” like Indonesia may face greater challenges, “but we must know that we live together under God.”
Although Indonesia’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion, Indonesia’s perception as a moderate Muslim country has been undermined by flare-ups of intolerance in recent years, ranging from the imprisonment of Jakarta’s Christian governor for blasphemy that sparked a series of protests in 2016 to the caning of gays in Aceh, a province where Islamic sharia law is practiced. There have also been reports of violence against religious minorities, and some faith groups have been unable to obtain building permits for their places of worship.
Meanwhile, Cantika Syamsinur, a 23-year-old student who had just finished her prayer at the Istiqlal Mosque and was on her way to the cathedral, said she welcomed the Pope’s visit and the interfaith meeting. “There are many religions in Indonesia and I hope we respect each other.”
Francis will be the third pope to visit Indonesia. The trip was originally planned for 2020 but was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Muslim men leave the Istiqlal Mosque after Friday prayers in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, August 9, 2024. Photo credit: AP/Tatan Syuflana
“Four years of waiting is quite a long time,” said Susyana Suwadie, who runs the cathedral’s museum, adding that she was overwhelmed with emotion as she awaited the Pope’s visit. “This important historical moment is finally taking place.”
Some hope that the Pope’s interfaith meeting will spur change at the grassroots level.
Thomas Ulun Ismoyo, a Catholic priest who is also the spokesman for the Pope’s visit committee in Indonesia, said religious leaders play a very important role in Indonesia because the masses listen to them. He hopes the Pope’s visit will “lead to something good” and work towards a better world where humanity and social justice are highly valued.
Andi Zahra Alifia Masdar, a 19-year-old college student from Jakarta, agreed: “We can accept each other more, be more tolerant and be able to live side by side without constantly clashing.”
