Pope Francis Calls for Unity Against Religious Extremism in Indonesia

Pope Francis, during a 12-day Southeast Asia tour, urged Indonesian leaders to counter religious extremism. Speaking in Jakarta, he emphasized inter-religious dialogue to foster mutual respect and reduce extremism. Accompanied by President Widodo, Francis appreciated the Vatican's efforts towards peace and discussed broader conflicts, excluding specific incidents like the Israel-Gaza war.

Pope Francis on Wednesday called on political leaders in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, to actively combat religious extremism. Addressing an audience at Jakarta's Merdeka Presidential Palace, Francis emphasized that extremism distorts religious beliefs through 'deception and violence.'

In his first speech of a 12-day journey across Southeast Asia, where Christians are a small minority, Francis stated that the Catholic Church aims to extend inter-religious dialogue to help diminish extremism. 'This is indispensable for meeting common challenges, including countering extremism and intolerance,' he added.

Indonesia, home to around 280 million people with an overwhelming Muslim majority, has seen instances of extremist violence. Addressing these issues, Francis highlighted the need for eliminating prejudices and fostering mutual respect. His visit also included discussions with President Joko Widodo about broader conflicts and promoting peace.

(With inputs from agencies.)