Pope Francis Urges Global Unity on Climate Change During Jakarta Visit

Pope Francis, during his visit to Jakarta's Istiqlal Mosque, called on Muslims and Catholics to unite in urging global leaders to confront climate change. Signing a declaration with the Grand Imam, he stressed the common roots of religious beliefs and the importance of environmental stewardship.

Pope Francis on Thursday invited Muslims and Catholics to push global leaders to confront the dangers of climate change and extremism, speaking of the common roots of different religious beliefs during his visit to Southeast Asia's largest mosque in Jakarta.

In a day laden with religious symbolism on his trip to Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, Francis issued a joint declaration with the national grand imam and other local faith leaders that called for 'decisive action' to address the warming planet. 'The human exploitation of creation, our common home, has contributed to climate change, leading to various destructive consequences such as natural disasters, global warming, and unpredictable weather patterns,' read the declaration, formally signed by Francis and Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar.

During the visit to Istiqlal Mosque, Francis highlighted a new underground tunnel connecting the mosque with the city's Catholic cathedral as an 'eloquent sign' of shared religious roots. He emphasized the need for solidarity in addressing environmental challenges, calling on people of all faiths to maintain the integrity of the natural environment.

(With inputs from agencies.)