German President Bewondered the Harmony of Istiqlal-Katedral

JAKARTA - The President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier was impressed to see the symbol of religious harmony in Indonesia. Together with First Lady Elke Büdenbender, Steinmeier visited the Istiqlal Mosque and the Jakarta Cathedral, including walking through the Silaturahmi Tunnel which connects the two houses of worship.

The visit was carried out after the state agenda at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. At Istiqlal, Steinmeier and Elke were greeted by Minister of Religion Nasaruddin Umar who is also the Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque, as well as the Archbishop of Jakarta Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo.

The German President saw a number of key parts of the Istiqlal Mosque, including the main pulpit. He also tried to hit the bedug, one of the traditions inherent in the Islamic culture in Indonesia.

From Istiqlal, Steinmeier and his wife walked through the Silaturahmi Tunnel to the Cathedral Church. At the location, they received an explanation about the history and meaning of the existence of two houses of worship that stand side by side in the center of the capital.

Minister of Religion Nasaruddin Umar said Steinmeier and his wife showed great interest in the harmony that was built between Istiqlal and the Cathedral.

"After the Palace, they immediately visited Istiqlal, then traced the Silaturahmi Tunnel until they entered the Cathedral. They were very touched to see a very ideal city, there are two very friendly houses of worship marked by a tunnel that connects the two," said Nasaruddin in Jakarta, Monday, June 15, 2026.

According to Nasaruddin, the experience in the tunnel left a deep impression because he heard a combination of bedug voices from Istiqlal and church bells from the Cathedral.

"In the middle there is a combination of bell sounds and the sound of bedug. Plus the ornaments of brotherhood which are very beautiful. That's what makes them very impressed," he said.

Nasaruddin assessed the Istiqlal-Cathedral area as a real picture of diversity in Indonesia. Therefore, the area is often introduced to heads of state and important guests who visit Indonesia.

"They were very satisfied watching a scene that is difficult to find in other parts of the world. That is the impression we got from the visit," he said.

Meanwhile, Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo explained that the closeness of the Istiqlal Mosque and the Cathedral Church has a strong historical root since the beginning of the establishment of Indonesia.

According to Cardinal Suharyo, when determining the location of the National Mosque, Vice President Mohammad Hatta had proposed another place. However, the first President of the Republic of Indonesia, Soekarno, chose the area that is now the location of Istiqlal with two important messages, namely removing colonial symbols and presenting the symbol of coexistence in diversity.

"The relationship between the Istiqlal Mosque and the Cathedral Church continues to be built as a symbol that we live side by side as Indonesian citizens. Therefore, whenever there are state guests, they are invited to see directly the ideal symbol of the Indonesian nation to live together in differences," said Suharyo.

Steinmeier's visit to Istiqlal and the Cathedral shows how the area is not only a state destination, but also a face of Indonesia in showing the life of a community living side by side in the midst of differences.