Pope Francis meets Grand Imam of Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, signs declaration: Video
In a historic meeting at Southeast Asia's largest mosque, Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque, Nasaruddin Umar, came together to sign a joint declaration promoting religious unity and environmental preservation.
The signing took place during one of the final events of the Pope’s three-day visit to Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation.
During the ceremony, Grand Imam Nasaruddin emphasised two critical messages: the importance of humanity and the urgent need to protect the environment. "Humanity is only one; there are no colours that divide us," said Umar. "And the environment is essential for the survival of our society and humanity."
The joint declaration, which calls for collaboration between Muslims, Catholics, and followers of all religions, depicts the role faith communities play in addressing global environmental challenges. "Without a healthy environment, it is difficult to achieve the highest levels of humanity," Umar added.
Pope Francis’s visit to Indonesia is part of his tour of the Asia-Pacific region, with a central theme of promoting interfaith unity, the AFP reports.
