Imam Nasaruddin: 'Indonesia can be a model of interfaith dialogue'

By Linda Bordoni and Lisa Zengarini

Indonesia can be a model of interreligious dialogue for humanity, says Dr. Nasaruddin Umar, the Grand Imam of Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque. 

Speaking to Vatican News' Linda Bordoni just a few minutes before the interreligious meeting with Pope Francis in the largest mosque in Southeast Asia, the 65-year-old Imam underscored the importance of the event for Indonesia, the most populous Muslim country in the world.

“We are of course very happy to meet the Pope here in this important mosque,” he said.  

Dr. Nasaruddin also highlighted the particular significance of the Joint Declaration of Istiqlal 2024 on interfaith friendship he was about to sign with Pope Francis.

The document, he explained, is focused on two key messages: “The first one is that humanity is only one, and the second one is how to save our environment.”

Indonesia's diversity in unity, he concluded, is the best example of interfaith dialogue in the world.