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Semarang archbishop visits Idul Fitri revelers, conveys greeting from Vatican
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New shepherd: Vatican Ambassador to Indonesia Antonio Guido Filipazzi (center) gives his blessing to Robertus Rubiyatmoko. (Antara/File)
P
eace and tolerance filled the air of Semarang, the capital city of Central Java, when the city's highest Catholic authorities visited Muslims who were attending an Idul Fitri prayer at Central Java Grand Mosque on Sunday.
At the mosque, Semarang Archbishop Robertus Rubiyatmoko said he was visiting his Muslim brethren in order to foster "fraternity among the faithful people of Indonesia", which he called a "fortune that also serves as humanity's hope."
Robertus conveyed an Idul Fitri greeting from the Vatican to the masses at the mosque.
Accompanied by the Semarang Archdiocese's interfaith commission chairman, Aloysius Budi Purnomo, Robertus met with some leaders attending the prayer, such as Central Java deputy governor Heru Sudjatmoko and Central Java Grand Mosque manager Noor Achmad.
Robertus, who was inaugurated as Semarang archbishop in May, said he hoped that interfaith life in the archipelago, especially in Central Java, would be much better in the future so that peace and joy "can be established."
"We are all brothers, creations of God. So, we will always try, no matter what happens, [to ensure camaraderie among us]," Robertus said as quoted by state news agency Antara.
Achmad, who delivered the Idul Fitri sermon, said he welcomed Robertus' visit, saying it showed that "Muslims and Catholics are united under the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia that is based on Pancasila," referring to the country's highest tenet. (mos/dmr)
