08/05/2021 Indonesia (International Christian Concern) – In an opinion piece written for UCA News, Siktus Harson argues that visiting Indonesia should be at the top of Pope Francis’ priority list. He states that a papal visit to the Muslim-majority nation would significantly influence the nation’s efforts towards interreligious fraternity.

The pope had planned to visit Indonesia late last year. He expressed his eagerness to visit the country to the respected Muslim cleric Yahya Cholil Staquf after meeting in early 2019 to discuss interreligious conflicts. Indonesian President Joko Widodo even sent a formal invitation to the pope in January of 2020. But, unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic derailed the pope’s plan to make the trip.

The Indonesian people remain eager for the pontiff to make the journey. Even though Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, with 87.2% of its population practicing Islam, it has long-standing relations with the Vatican established after it declared independence in 1947.

Pope Francis has often emphasized the importance of Christian brotherhood with Muslims. For example, when the pope visited the Middle East in early 2019, the pope and the grand imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, signed the Document on Human Fraternity and Living Together in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

The document was a historic milestone for Christian and Muslim relations, declaring the adoption of a culture of dialogue, cooperation, and mutual understanding. Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia’s largest Islamic organization, adopted the document in line with its mission to promote national unity and universal human fraternity. Muslim and Christian leaders met at a conference soon after Pope Francis signed the document to discuss applying it to their respective communities.

Since divisions between Christians and Muslims, often including violence and discrimination against Christians, are common in Indonesia, the country has recently emphasized the importance of interreligious cooperation and fraternity.

The Indonesian people highly regard the pope, and he has been outspoken about Muslim and Christian fraternity. Therefore, his visit could help boost the interreligious community and even reduce extremism and terrorist threats.

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