Indonesia’s Muslim Christian leaders pray for Emeritus Pope and inter-religious harmony

March 04, 2013 - Muslim-Christian leaders in Indonesia prayed for Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, as well as for better inter-religious harmony in the world’s largest Muslim nation. A Muslim-Christian conference, held from February 27 to March 1 in Jakarta, offered a prayer for Pope Benedict XVI who retired on Thursday, and resolved to move from "words to facts", from good intentions to real steps to address the problem of sectarian violence and dialogue among followers of different religions. The event promoted by the Conference of Islamic Scholars (ICIS) and the local bishops conference (KWI), together with the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) and the Christian Conference of Asia, was attended by 16 experts and religious leaders from around the continent. In the official statement issued at the end of the work, the Christian-Muslim representatives stressed: "we are fully aware that we are morally compelled to help our brethrens to more deeply acknowledge that religion is fundamentally a means to help faithful to exercise their faith." On the other hand, it must not lend itself to manipulation or become an excuse for personal attacks and violence. On behalf of all conference participants, Bishop John Saklil of Timika remembered retired Pope Benedict XVI, inviting prayers for him, while the Catholic Church is in the process of electing his successor. The three-day meeting also warned against some of the many "endemic" ills affecting the nation; above all corruption, together with the issue of migrants and the ill-treatment they are often subjected to.