Pope Francis Advocates Against Religious Extremism in Indonesia

Pope Francis urged Indonesian political leaders to counter religious extremism during his speech at the Merdeka Presidential Palace. He emphasized inter-religious dialogue to eliminate prejudice and foster mutual respect. The pontiff's remarks highlighted the importance of addressing extremism and intolerance, especially in a predominantly Muslim nation, as he began his Southeast Asia tour.

Pope Francis on Wednesday urged political leaders in Indonesia to take a strong stand against religious extremism. Addressing an audience at Jakarta's Merdeka Presidential Palace, Francis highlighted the distortion of religion through deception and violence and called for enhanced inter-religious dialogue.

The pontiff stressed that fostering mutual respect and trust is essential to combat extremism, which has manifested in violent incidents in recent years. Notably, suicide bomb attacks by extremist groups have targeted Indonesian citizens, underscoring the need for unified action.

Arriving in a wheelchair, Pope Francis was received by President Joko Widodo and an honor guard. His remarks set the tone for his 12-day Southeast Asia tour, also including Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore, where he will continue to advocate for peace and tolerance.

(With inputs from agencies.)