German President Schedules Visit to Istiqlal and Jakarta Cathedral

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has scheduled a visit to the Istiqlal Mosque and Jakarta Cathedral via the Silaturahmi Tunnel to observe first-hand the practice of religious tolerance in Indonesia. “And also during our visit today, including a visit shortly to the Istiqlal Mosque and walking through the friendship tunnel to Jakarta Cathedral,” President Steinmeier said in his speech at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Monday. The agenda is scheduled to take place after a bilateral meeting and official luncheon with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace complex. The visit is part of the official programme for the German Head of State in Jakarta. Steinmeier said he was already aware of the state of interfaith harmony in Indonesia based on his previous visits. The Silaturahmi Tunnel, which connects the two houses of worship, serves as a symbol of harmony and tolerance among religious communities in Indonesia. The German government views efforts to maintain tolerance and diversity as a positive development worthy of appreciation. The 34-metre Silaturahmi Tunnel was inaugurated by President Prabowo Subianto on 12 December 2024 and has since become a symbol of religious harmony in Indonesia. Currently, access to the Silaturahmi Tunnel is not yet open regularly for general tourist visits. Its use is typically reserved for state events, visits by important guests, or specific activities coordinated with the management of both houses of worship.