Pope Francis’ historic Indonesia visit highlights religious intolerance amid unity in diversity

“Sometimes violent tensions arise within countries because those in power want to make everything uniform, imposing their vision even in matters that should be left to the autonomy of individuals or associated groups,” Pope Francis said in an address at the State Palace in Jakarta.

Quoting a speech delivered by Pope John Paul II during the last papal visit to Indonesia in 1989, Pope Francis said the government should “respect the human and political rights of all citizens” to forge a “just and peaceful society which all Indonesians wish for themselves and long to bequeath to their children.”

On Thursday, the pope is scheduled to attend an interfaith meeting at the Istiqlal Mosque, Southeast Asia’s largest mosque. To drive home his message of religious harmony, Francis will walk into the 28.3-metre “Tunnel of Friendship”, which was built in 2020 and connects the mosque to the Jakarta Cathedral next door.