Wave of support for Pope Francis-Grand Imam's message for peace

A joint call for religious leaders to condemn religion-based violence made by Pope Francis and Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar on Thursday had also made waves in Malaysia.

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur Chancellor Clarence Devadass said the joint declaration marks a significant step towards religious leaders working together to promote human dignity, inter-religious dialogue and environmental protection.

"The clear message this declaration points out is that the values shared by our religious traditions should be effectively promoted in order to defeat the culture of violence.

"For me, this is a clear reminder that religious leaders and religions must promote the common good which is primarily peace, harmony and mutual respect.

“Religion cannot be made use in a way that festers hatred, discord and violence,” Clarence told Malaysiakini.

On Thursday, Francis (above, left), as part of his 45th apostolic journey, met with Nasaruddin at the Istiqlal where he also visited the “Friendship Tunnel” connecting the largest mosque in Southeast Asia to the Our Lady of Assumption Catholic cathedral.

In a speech before leaders of Indonesia’s six recognised religions - Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Confucianism - Francis stated that “we are all brothers, all pilgrims, all on our way to God, beyond what differentiates us”.

He later led a mass attended by over 85,000 Catholics from all across Indonesia at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, which was also aired live on national television.

Asked about his views on how religious leaders of all faiths in Malaysia can take heed of Francis’ message, Clarence said: “Religious leaders have to first pivot towards creating bonds of friendship, care and reciprocity among religions and this must be by example.”

“Too often, our diversity remains a slogan, what takes over is superiority. In the eyes of God, there is only one language, that is, the language of love. There is no room for bigotry,” he stressed.

Years of talks bearing fruit

Meanwhile, Council of Churches Malaysia former secretary Reverend Herman Shastri described the joint statement against religion-stoking conflict as the fruit of years of dialogue for interfaith peace between the Vatican and religious leaders around the world.

He said religious leaders in dialogue with the Vatican represent those seeking renewed paths towards interfaith peace-building based on human fraternity and universal values of freedom, justice and care for the earth.

“There are already many initiatives of joint action on the global level.

“It is very encouraging to mark the Pope's first visit to the largest Muslim nation in the world with such a common affirmation of religions playing a crucial role in maintaining peace between diverse religious and ethnic communities,” he told Malaysiakini.

In Malaysia, Herman said there are many progressive Muslim leaders who hold the view that religion should be a force for good and interfaith harmony in the country.

Among others, he highlighted Amanah deputy president Mujahid Yusof Rawa, as then de facto religious affairs minister, who in 2019 co-organised an interfaith solidarity rally to condemn the Christchurch Mosque shootings in New Zealand.

Hermann was among interfaith leaders present at the rally in Kuala Lumpur where Mujahid, together with then-national unity minister P Waythamoorthy, read out the KL Peace Declaration 2019.

Call for peace

When contacted, Mujahid said calls for peace and upholding humanity are values that should unite all religions.

“Islam has two sides when it comes to interfaith relations.

“The first is exclusive to Muslims on matters of the faith and our practises, while the other side comprises inclusive humanitarian values.

“A call for peace must be answered by all peace lovers as it serves the interest of all parties,” he said.

He noted Malaysia had, in 2004, endorsed the Amman Message by Jordan’s King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, with a three-point ruling from

Two hundred Islamic scholars from 50 countries, aim to "clarify to the modern world the true nature of Islam and the nature of true Islam”.

"So, we must continue the focus on Islam as a blessing for all mankind, in our commitment towards peace,” he said.

The Amman Message was declared amid the US-led war on terror which followed the Sept 11, 2001, attacks by Al-Qaeda against the New York World Trade Centre.

Two decades later, foreign invasions and civil wars rage on in parts of the Muslim world, while Israel’s attacks on Gaza have served as a rallying point for interfaith unity.

Commenting further, Mujahid noted that unlike in Indonesia where the religious affairs minister is in charge of policies affecting six religions, fostering stronger interfaith relations in Malaysia will require inter-ministry efforts.

In conjunction with Francis’ visit, Indonesia’s Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas had accepted a request from the organising committee for television stations to not stop a live telecast of the mass to air the Maghrib azan or call to prayer.

Meanwhile, National Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang urged religious leaders to utilise three bureaus under the ministry's Harmony Committee to resolve issues related to interfaith harmony.

Francis, 87, departed from Indonesia yesterday to continue his journey to Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and Singapore.

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