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Pope Francis states environment change a common cause throughout Istiqlal Mosque see

Pope Francis on Thursday invited Muslims and Catholics to press worldwide leaders to challenge the dangers of climate change and extremism, and spoke of the typical roots of various faiths as he checked out Southeast Asia's biggest mosque in Jakarta.

In a day laden with spiritual importance on his journey to Indonesia, the world's most populated Muslim-majority country, the pope provided a joint statement with the national grand imam and other local faith leaders that called for definitive action to deal with the warming planet.

The human exploitation of creation, our typical home, has contributed to environment change, leading to various destructive consequences such as natural catastrophes, international warming and unpredictable weather patterns, checked out the declaration, officially signed by Francis and Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar.

We sincerely contact all people of great will to take decisive action in order to keep the stability of the natural environment and its resources, they stated.

The signing of the declaration came during Francis' check out to Istiqlal Mosque, a domed structure covering some nine hectares ( 22 acres) in main Jakarta. The pope is visiting Indonesia through Friday, as part of an ambitious 12-day journey to four countries throughout Southeast Asia and Oceania.

Francis also talked to an inter-religious event held outside the mosque's primary entryway, which opened with a young lady offering a plaintive singing of a passage from the Koran. The pope made duplicated recommendation to a brand-new underground tunnel connecting the mosque with the city's Catholic cathedral, situated throughout the street.

The 28 metre-long (90 feet) passage, called the tunnel. of relationship, is an significant sign suggesting how individuals of. different beliefs can share typical roots, said the 87-year-old. pope.

We might say that what lies 'beneath,' what runs. underground, like the 'tunnel of friendship,' is the one root. typical to all spiritual sensitivities: the quest for an. encounter with the divine, stated Francis.

By looking deeply ... we discover that we are all bros. and sis, all pilgrims, all on our way to God, beyond what. distinguishes us, he stated.

Chaturrini Widosari, a Muslim, was participating in the. inter-religious event with her Catholic pal, Connie. Triastuti Anoy. Widosari called the pope a good example who. gives an example of how to live in the world in peace together. although we are different faiths.

About 87% of Indonesia's population of 280 million is. Muslim, while about 3% is Catholic.

Francis has actually emphasised Catholic-Muslim dialogue throughout. his 11-year papacy and has signed numerous joint statements. with Muslim leaders. In 2019, he was the very first pope to check out the Arabian peninsula,. where he signed a declaration with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar,. often called the greatest authority in Sunni Islam. The pope, who promoted the 2015 Paris climate pact, has likewise. made confronting climate alter a crucial focus of his pontificate.

Jakarta, the Indonesian capital home to at least 10 million. people, is vulnerable to climate modification, as it deals with chronic. flooding and sinking land. The federal government is developing a brand-new. capital, Nusantara, on the island of Borneo.

On Thursday afternoon, Francis will celebrate a Catholic. Mass at Jakarta's Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, a multi-purpose. sports complex.

In a sign of regard for the pope's Mass, Indonesia's. spiritual affairs minister suggested regional broadcasters suspend. the daily afternoon transmission of the Muslim call to prayer. that day, and instead use a running text overlay on broadcasts.

On Friday, the pope leaves Indonesia for Papua New Guinea,. then East Timor and Singapore. He will have clocked nearly. 33,000 km

(source: Reuters)