Pope Francis Warns Indonesia Against Religious Extremism

Pope Francis has issued a warning to Indonesia, the country with the largest Muslim population, against the dangers of religious extremism. During his visit, Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, urged Indonesian leaders to protect people from extremist threats and violence that distort religious beliefs.

Currently on a 9-day tour of Southeast Asia, where Christians are a minority, Pope Francis is making his first extended visit to the region. He has advised local Catholic Christians not to impose their religion on others. In a speech to Indonesian leaders, he emphasized the Catholic Church’s commitment to enhancing interfaith dialogue to combat religious extremism.

At a speech delivered at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, the 87-year-old Pope stated, “By doing so, we can eliminate prejudices and foster an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust.” He stressed the importance of addressing common challenges like religious extremism and intolerance, which often use threats and violence to impose their beliefs.

Indonesia, with a population of 28 million, is 87% Muslim. Although predominantly Muslim, Indonesia is not an Islamic state. Its constitution guarantees freedom of religion, a principle upheld for over two decades. Despite a significant decline in religious extremism since the 2002 Bali bombing, which killed 202 people including 88 Australians, there were recent incidents involving suicide bombings by an organization affiliated with ISIS in 2021 and 2022.

During his visit, President Joko Widodo thanked Pope Francis for advocating a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict. Due to knee pain, Pope Francis arrived at the Presidential Palace in a wheelchair. While he did not address specific violent incidents, his speech focused on the broader issues of extremism, intolerance, and forced conversion.

The Pope emphasized that genuine faith should promote peace, unity, dialogue, and mutual respect, rather than division and hatred. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi noted that although the Gaza conflict was not specifically discussed, the conversation covered global conflicts and the need for peace.

After his speech at the Presidential Palace, Pope Francis met with local Catholics in Jakarta. He clarified that following Church teachings should not involve imposing one’s religion on others. Pope Francis will leave Indonesia on Friday and continue his tour to Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore, returning to Rome on September 13.