Progressivism in the Church
Church Revolution in Pictures
Photo of the Week
Francis kisses an imam's hand
On September 5, 2024, Pope Francis was received by the Indonesian Muslim Imam Nasaruddin Umar in a tent close to the Istiqlal mosque in Jakarta.Both signed the Declaration of Istiqlal, which is a diluted version of the Abu Dhabi Declararton signed in 2019.
The Istiqlal Declaration stresses four points:
First, religion should not be used to promote violence and conflicts;
Second, Catholic and Muslims should collaborate to resolve conflicts and environment problems;
Third, both religions should take part in interreligious dialogue;
Fourth, persons of good will are invited to care for creation.
The moderate tone of this Declaration can be explained by the fact that Indonesia is the country with the largest Muslim population – 242 million in 2022 – that is not turned toward interreligious dialogue. This lack of tolerance of the average Indonesian Muslim may also explain why the Muslim leader did not invite Francis to enter the mosque, but received him in a tent outside the building.
Nonetheless, we see Francis kissing the hand of the imam, after both signed the Declaration.
For a Pope to kiss the hand of a Muslim who openly fights for the domination of his false religion over the entire world is nothing less than treason and a denial of the Catholic Faith.