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Indonesian Embassy in Vatican holds interfaith dialogue
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Observance: Hundreds of people light candles during a Christmas Eve service at Kebonjati Protestant church, Bandung, on Dec. 24.
(JP/Arya Dipa)
T
he Indonesian Embassy in Vatican City on Wednesday held an interfaith dialogue and seminar themed “Managing Religious Plurality in Indonesia during the Reform Era”.
The event, which was held at Sant Egidio Community Hall in Rome, Italy, aimed to promote Indonesia’s diversity values and its vast experience in fighting for pluralism.
Indonesian Ambassador for Vatican A.Agus Sriyono said in his remarks that the seminar was intended as a forum to exchange views and to expand perspectives on Indonesia’s experience to contribute in the management of religious diversity in the international context. Moreover, in the world’s current condition, intolerance and inter-religious tensions had continued to increase, he added as quoted by Antara.
Indonesian Ambassador for Italy Esti Andayani, members of diplomatic corps, local journalists, and representatives of mass organizations in Italy attended the event.
Vatican papal council for interfaith dialogue head Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran said Indonesia was a peaceful country with great diversity. He added that the country’s ideology of Pancasila was an inspiration to live peacefully in harmony.
Saint Egidio Community president Marco Impagliazzo said religion had an important role in decreasing tensions caused by religious differences.
Wahid Institute director Yenny Wahid said Indonesia must use Pancasila as the solution to muffle religious conflicts. “Pancasila as the state ideology unites all elements in the society,” she said.
Muhammadiyah secretary general Abdul Mukti said there were five key elements that could be used to manage religious diversity. They comprised acceptance, respect, freedom to perform religious activities, justice guaranteed by the government, and understanding among religious followers that could be built through an interfaith dialogue. (rdi/ebf)
