The head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, on Wednesday, called on Indonesia to honour its commitment to “harmony in diversity” and to actively combat religious intolerance.
His remarks came as he embarked on a demanding 11-day, four-nation journey through Southeast Asia and Oceania, which will challenge both his stamina and health.
Despite the rigorous schedule, the Argentine displayed high spirits and energy throughout his first full day in Indonesia.
He met with outgoing President Joko Widodo and other officials at the presidential palace before addressing Catholic clergy at Jakarta’s main cathedral later in the afternoon.
As Pope Francis and Widodo stood together on the palace veranda, alongside President-elect Prabowo Subianto, cannons thundered in salute.
A vibrant welcome followed, featuring a marching band, traditional dancers, and stiff-legged troops, marking the first papal visit to Indonesia in 35 years.
During his address to Indonesian officials, Francis likened the nation’s cultural diversity to its 17,000 islands, each contributing uniquely to form “a magnificent mosaic, in which each tile is an irreplaceable element in creating a great original and precious work.”
However, he cautioned that such diversity, particularly in a country with the world’s largest Muslim population, could also become a source of conflict—a subtle reference to recent episodes of intolerance within Indonesia and broader global conflicts.
“This wise and delicate balance, between the multiplicity of cultures and different ideological visions, and the ideals that cement unity, must be continuously defended against imbalances,” Pope Francis urged.
He highlighted the crucial role of political leaders in this endeavor while assuring Widodo of the Catholic Church’s dedication to fostering interreligious dialogue.
“This is indispensable for meeting common challenges, including that of countering extremism and intolerance, which through the distortion of religion attempt to impose their views by using deception and violence,” Francis emphasized.
Regionally, the ongoing conflict in Myanmar has driven over 700,000 Rohingya to seek refuge in Bangladesh, with many fleeing overcrowded camps to other countries, including Indonesia. Widodo also expressed gratitude to Francis for the Vatican’s support for Palestinian civilians amid Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
“War will not benefit anyone, war will only bring suffering and misery to the common people,” Widodo stated. “Therefore let us celebrate the differences that we have. Let us accept each other and strengthen tolerance to realize peace, to realize a better world for all humanity.”
The pontiff arrived in Jakarta on Tuesday, embarking on what is considered the longest and most challenging trip of his papacy, given his health concerns.
At 87, he uses a wheelchair, suffers from recurrent bronchitis, and has undergone multiple surgeries for intestinal issues.
By the trip’s conclusion on September 13, Francis will have traveled 32,814 kilometers (20,390 miles) and visited Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore—one of the most extensive papal journeys in terms of distance and duration.
On Wednesday, Francis appeared in good spirits, displaying his characteristic humor despite the physical demands of the day, including long periods of standing and multiple transfers between his wheelchair and other seating arrangements.
His wit remained sharp throughout the day: he praised Indonesia’s relatively high birthrate, joking that in the West, “some prefer a cat or a little dog.” In a private meeting with fellow Jesuits, he quipped, “The police have come to take me away,” and later warned priests and nuns against greed, saying, “the devil enters through your pockets.”
Notably, his prepared speeches were shorter than usual, possibly to conserve his energy.
In the afternoon, Francis delivered his customary encouragement to local clergy at Jakarta’s Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral, urging greater fraternity among different faiths and cultures.
“This is important, because proclaiming the Gospel does not mean imposing our faith or placing it in opposition to that of others, but giving and sharing the joy of encountering Christ always with great respect and fraternal affection for everyone,” he told the gathered priests, nuns, and lay leaders.
Sister Rina Rosalina, chosen to address the pope, offered a candid critique regarding the lengthy process for Vatican approval of Indonesian-language translations of official texts.
“Holy Father, we are always trying to learn from you. Unfortunately, due to distance and language barriers, sometimes we have difficulties studying the documents issued from Rome,” she noted, eliciting a knowing nod from the pope.
Outside the cathedral, hundreds of well-wishers, including a boy dressed as a tiny pope, gathered to greet Francis. They waved Indonesian and Vatican flags as children played traditional bamboo instruments.
The cathedral’s location opposite Indonesia’s main Istiqlal mosque, connected by the “Tunnel of Friendship,” symbolizes the nation’s efforts towards interfaith and intercultural harmony. Francis is scheduled to visit the mosque and meet with its grand imam on Thursday.
While Pope aimed to highlight Indonesia’s tradition of religious tolerance, the country’s image as a moderate Muslim nation has been marred by recent episodes of intolerance.
In 2021, a militant Islamic couple detonated a bomb outside a packed Catholic cathedral on Sulawesi island during Palm Sunday Mass, injuring at least 20 people.
Amnesty International expressed hope that the pope’s visit would help curb intolerance and discrimination against minority groups, reinforcing Indonesia’s constitutional commitment to religious freedom.
“The pope’s visit has an important role to play in encouraging Indonesia to end intolerance and discrimination against all minority groups,” said Usman Hamid, executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia.
