Jusuf Kalla To Arsjad Rasjid Voice Peace In Rome

The 10th and 12th Vice Presidents of the Republic of Indonesia Jusuf Kalla (third from the right) spoke online at the International Meeting for Peace 2025 in Rome, Italy, Monday (27/10/2025). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Three Indonesian figures conveyed a message about world peace at the 2025 International Meeting for Peace in Rome, Italy, on Monday, October 27, 2025. The three figures were Jusuf Kalla, Nasaruddin Umar, and Arsjad Rasjid.

Reporting from the information received in Jakarta, the three of them brought different perspectives, but complement each other about politics, spirituality, and the economy. This perspective represents Indonesia's face as a plural country that upholds dialogue and humanity.

The 10th and 12th Vice Presidents of the Republic of Indonesia Jusuf Kalla conveyed peace not only the absence of war, but the courage to choose a path of dialogue and solidarity.

"Peace is the courage to lay down arms, both physically and ideologically, and to choose justice and humanity," he said.

Jusuf Kalla, who is known as a conflict mediator in Poso and Aceh, also said that mosques can become a center for people's moral and social development.

"Mosques should not only be places of worship, but also social spaces that foster civility and humanitarian solidarity," he said.

Then, Nasaruddin Umar, who currently serves as Minister of Religion as well as Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque, reminded the dangers of politicization of religion that could threaten peace.

According to him, the biggest threat to peace is not religion, but religious abuse.

He also emphasized the importance of Islam as a blessing for the universe and invited the world to emulate Indonesia as a 'laboratorium of harmony' or a place where religious people live side by side in harmony.

"Indonesia's diversity is a spiritual heritage that can be shared with the world," he said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) and Chairman of the Indonesian Mosque Council for Entrepreneurship Arsjad Rasjid discussed the economic dimension in maintaining peace. According to him, economic inequality is a latency source of conflict.

"Economics without humanity is a form of hidden conflict," he said in a session themed Economy and Solidarity.

Arsjad also highlighted the importance of a civil economy and community empowerment based on social solidarity. He called for the business world to be part of humanitarian solutions and global peace.

It is known that the International Meeting for Peace 2025 in Rome is a cross-religious and cultural forum that brings together thousands of world leaders to discuss global peace amid increasing conflict and extremism.