Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service

JAKARTA, Indonesia — While members of every religion must be free to profess and practice their faith, they also should recognize that members of other religions have that right too, and they all are searching for God, Pope Francis said.

Nasaruddin Umar, the grand imam of the Istiqlal Mosque, welcomed the pope to the mosque compound on Sept. 5 and led him directly to the “tunnel of friendship,” a wide underground walkway that connects the mosque and the Catholic cathedral across the busy street.

Like the pope, the imam was dressed in white from head to toe and greeted Pope Francis with a kiss on the cheek. At the end of the meeting, Umar put an arm around the pope’s shoulder and kissed him on top of his head. Pope Francis, who was seated in his wheelchair, took the imam’s hand and kissed it.

Earlier, facing the entrance to the tunnel, Pope Francis had told the imam and donors who helped build it: “When we think of a tunnel, we might easily imagine a dark pathway. This could be frightening, especially if we are alone. Yet here it is different, for everything is illuminated.”

“I would like to tell you, however, that you are the light that illuminates it,” he said. “And you do so by your friendship, by the harmony you cultivate, by journeying together.”

The pope and imam signed “The Istiqlal Declaration,” committing members of both religious communities to defending human dignity and creation's integrity.

“The values shared by our religious traditions should be effectively promoted in order to defeat violence and indifference afflicting our world,” stated in part. “Religious values should promote respect, dignity, compassion...to overcome dehumanization and environmental destruction.”

Engkus Ruswana from Majelis Luhur Kepercayaan Indonesia highlighted his faith’s priority: "humanity...and relationship between human beings and nature."

In a large tent draped with Indonesian flag colors were representatives from various religious communities including Muslims Christians Buddhists Hindus Confucians.

The formal meeting began with Quran chanting by Kayla Nur Syahwa 16 winner national Quran recitation contest for children with disabilities followed by Gospel reading by Catholic priest.

Pope Francis asked leaders how tunnel can metaphorically represent Indonesians' faith life providing common ground between prayer spaces two communities.

Tunnel he said signifies “all us together each cultivating spirituality practicing religion may walk search God contribute building open societies founded reciprocal respect mutual love capable protecting against rigidity fundamentalism extremism which always dangerous never justifiable.”

“The visible aspects religions rites practices heritage must protected respected” said pope adding what lies ‘underneath’ runs underground like ‘tunnel friendship’ common root all religious sensitivities quest encounter divine thirst infinite Almighty placed hearts search greater joy life stronger any type death animates journey lives impels step out ourselves encounter God.”

Rev Kriese Anki Gosal Presbyterian minister vice general secretary Communion Churches main ecumenical body Indonesia called visit amazing adding: “We want our pope’s message...He has messages we must pass on whether one Catholic not Christian not.”

Rev Jacklevyn Manuputty general secretary ecumenical group includes 97 churches Christian communities insisted Christians about 10% Indonesia population citizens not minorities stating: “‘Majority-minority’ political terms misused...living most diverse countries world dialogue lifestyle...world growing tendency populism identity politics based race religion dialogue promotes authenticity.”