Pope kisses the hand of the imam outside the Jakarta mosque

Staff Writer - September 2024

Pope Francis has joined the grand imam of Southeast Asia’s largest mosque in pledging to work together to fight religiously inspired violence and protect the planet.

Pope Francis and Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar sealed their joint declaration with a symbolic gesture of mutual respect and friendship.

After the grand imam kissed the pope's head, Pope Francis took the imam's hand and kissed it, signifying their commitment to interfaith dialogue and cooperation.

This historic moment took place at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, during Pope Francis' 12-day trip to Asia and Oceania .

In an encounter rich with symbolic meaning, Francis traveled to Jakarta's iconic Istiqlal Mosque for an interfaith gathering with representatives of the six religions that are officially recognized in Indonesia: Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Catholicism and Protestantism.

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