Why is the Pope visiting Indonesia?published at 05:34 British Summer Time 3 September
Hanna Samosir
Reporting from Jakarta
Observers say Francis’ visit to Indonesia highlights his interest to deepen dialogue between Christian and Muslim communities.
“For the longest time, there [have been] tensions. [Both groups have had] misunderstandings over the course of history,” said Jonathan Tan, a religious studies expert at the Case Western Reserve University in the US.
“I think what the Pope wants to do
is to do a new way forward, a new way of relating to one another, not a
defensive way,” he said.
More than 87% of Indonesia’s population, or about 242 million people, are Muslims. Catholics make up just 3% of the country’s population.
Ignatius Suharyo, the Archbishop of Jakarta, said Pope Francis wants to live up to the legacy of Francis of Assisi, the 13th-Century saint whose name he adopted in 2013.
“Francis of Assisi crossed the battlefield to meet with one of the
Muslim leaders there. So that character… is something [Pope Francis] wants to embody and show,” Suharyo said.
More than 87% of Indonesia’s population, or about 242 million people, are Muslims
