Minister Of Religion Hopes That The Pope Feels Diversity In Indonesia That Is Preserved

Supreme Leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis upon arrival at Soetta Airport, Banten, Tuesday, September 3, 2024. (ANTARA-HO-Kemenag)

JAKARTA - Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said the visit of the Supreme Leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, should be interpreted as a desire to build peace among religious believers.

Therefore, the Minister of Religion invites the Indonesian people to be able to show unity and integrity, mutual understanding, and mutual understanding.

"We hope that he will witness how diversity in Indonesia can be maintained properly," Yaqut said in Jakarta, Tuesday, September 3, as reported by Antara.

The Minister of Religion's statement was delivered when welcoming Pope Francis at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. The plane carrying Pope Francis landed at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten, Tuesday, at 11:26 WIB.

In the welcoming was also present by the Archbishop of Jakarta Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo, Chairman of the Pope Francis Visit Committee to Indonesia Ignasius Jonan, a number of Echelon I officials of the Ministry of Religion.

Yaqut conveyed, a message from Pope Francis about the importance of maintaining dialogue between faiths. Because dialogue between faiths is the key to tolerance and world peace.

"The event at Istiqlal will also be important, because after the meeting with the president, he will continue at Istiqlal, there will be an Interfaith Dialogue event. I think this is a manifestation of what he said earlier, that dialogue is the main key to the success of peace, not just the world, but between humans," said Yaqut.

He also praised Pope Francis' simplicity for choosing simple vehicles, not luxury vehicles. Including staying not at luxury hotels, but at the Vatican Embassy.

"He is the leader of the Holy Throne of the Vatican, the leader of the country and the leader of the people. With the simplicity he shows, how he chooses vehicles in a very simple way, and this should be imitated," he said.

Pope Francis' austolic visit to Indonesia, Yaqut said, was a matter of pride. Previously, the 6th Pope Paul had also visited Indonesia in 1970, and the 2nd Pope Johannes Paul in 1989.

"The most important thing in my opinion is that all of these processes are strengthening relations between Indonesia and the Vatican," he said.