JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) 鈥� Pope Francis joined the grand imam of Southeast Asia鈥檚 largest mosque in pledging to work together to promote peace and protect the environment on Thursday, issuing a joint call for interfaith friendship and common cause at the heart of Francis鈥�
In an encounter rich with symbolic meaning, Francis traveled to Jakarta鈥檚 iconic for an interfaith gathering with representatives of the six religions that are officially recognized in Indonesia: Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Catholicism and Protestantism.
There, he and the grand imam, Nasaruddin Umar, stood at the ground-level entrance to the 鈥淭unnel of Friendship,鈥� an underpass which connects the mosque compound with the neighboring Catholic cathedral, Our Lady of the Assumption.
Indonesia, which has the world鈥檚 largest Muslim population, has held out the tunnel as a tangible sign of its commitment to religious freedom, which is enshrined in the constitution but has been challenged by repeated instances of discrimination and violence against religious minorities.
Approaching the elevator to the tunnel, Francis too said it was a potent sign of how different religious traditions 鈥渉ave a role to play in helping everyone pass through the tunnels of life with our eyes turned towards the light.鈥�
鈥淚n the face of today鈥檚 many challenges, we respond with the sign of fraternity,鈥� Francis said in an initial greeting. 鈥淚ndeed, by welcoming others and respecting their identity, fraternity urges them on a common path traveled in friendship and leading towards the light.鈥�
Francis traveled to Indonesia, at the start of an 11-day, four-nation trip to Asia and Oceania, to encourage Indonesia to and pledge the Catholic Church鈥檚 commitment to greater fraternity.
Francis has made a hallmark of his papacy and has prioritized travel to majority Muslim nations to further the agenda. has also been an important priority, with Francis insisting on the moral dimension of caring for God鈥檚 creation.
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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP鈥檚 with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Nicole Winfield And Edna Tarigan, The Associated Press
