The Pope met with representatives of six different religions in the area and signed a statement on religious cooperation and environmental protection with the grand imam of the Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta’s capital.
The 87-year-old began his 11-day tour to the area earlier on Tuesday, marking the lengthiest overseas journey of his pontificate.
He will travel to Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, and Singapore after celebrating mass in front of an expected 80,000 spectators in Indonesia’s major football stadium later in the day..
The Pope stated on Thursday that “we are all brothers, all pilgrims, all on our way to God, beyond what differentiates us” in remarks made at the largest mosque in Southeast Asia.
He said that war, strife, and environmental damage are the causes of the “serious crisis” that humanity is currently confronting.
The Pope also went through a 28-meter (91-foot) tunnel that runs across the street from the Istiqlal Mosque to the Catholic cathedral.
