Pope Francis on Thursday invited Muslims and Catholics to push global leaders to confront the dangers of climate change and extremism. He spoke of the common roots of different religious beliefs as he visited Southeast Asia’s largest mosque in Jakarta.
In a day laden with religious symbolism on his trip to Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, the pope issued a joint declaration with the national grand imam and other local faith leaders that called for “decisive action” to address the warming planet.
“The human exploitation of creation, our common home, has contributed to climate change, leading to various destructive consequences such as natural disasters, global warming, and unpredictable weather patterns,” read the declaration, formally signed by Francis and Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar.
“We sincerely call on all people of goodwill to take decisive action to maintain the integrity of the natural environment and its resources,” they said.
The signing of the declaration came during Francis’ visit to Istiqlal Mosque, a domed structure covering some nine hectares (22 acres) in central Jakarta.
The pope is visiting Indonesia through Friday, as part of an ambitious 12-day journey to four countries across Southeast Asia and Oceania.
Francis also spoke to an inter-religious gathering held outside the mosque’s main entrance, which opened with a young woman reciting a passage from the Quran.
The pope repeatedly referenced a new underground tunnel connecting the mosque with the city’s Catholic cathedral across the street.
