Pope urged to continue interfaith talks

Pope urged to continue interfaith talks

Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Greeting the election of German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as new
pope, Muslims and Christian leaders here said on Wednesday they
hoped that he would follow in the footsteps of his predecessor in
giving much attention to interfaith dialog and the poor in order
to promote peace in the world.

Addib Rofi'uddin Izza, a member of the largest Muslim
organization Nadhlatul Ulama (NU), said he was impressed by
Ratzinger's statement that he would give major attention to
interfaith talks and youth, in order to strengthen the Roman
Catholic Church's role in building peace.

"It means he (the new pontiff) will follow in the footsteps of
John Paul II in intensifying dialog with other faiths to promote
peace, a fairer world and religious tolerance," he told The
Jakarta Post.

Ratzinger, born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1927, was elected pope
in a short conclave in the Vatican on Tuesday, replacing John
Paul II who passed away on April 2. The new pontiff has taken the
name Benedict XVI.

Addib said Muslims here were also impressed by John Paul's
visits to many mainly Muslim countries, including Indonesia, his
efforts to promote dialog with other religious leaders, and his
opposition to the U.S.-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

A similar praise was given by Moeslim Abdurrahman, a prominent
scholar from Indonesia's second largest Muslim organization
Muhammadiyah.

He said Muhammadiyah was happy with the election of Ratzinger,
which he added should give greater attention to the promotion of
interfaith dialog and the widening disparity between developed
and developing countries.

"Under Pope Benedict XVI, the Roman Catholic Church should
work hand-in-hand with other religions to build peace and take
sides with the poor, the marginalized and the oppressed," he
said.

Moeslim acknowledged that the late John Paul II's visit to
Indonesia in 1989 and his strong opposition to the United States'
invasion of Iraq had helped promote religious tolerance,
especially among Muslims and non-Muslims in Indonesia.

Ulil Absar Abdalla, a prominent NU thinker, said that under
the leadership of Pope Benedict XVI, the Roman Catholic Church
would still be challenged to intensify interfaith dialog between
the Muslim and Christian communities in dealing with the global
campaign against terrorism.

"Interfaith dialog has become relevant in connection with the
West's sentiments toward the Muslim world and a series of
terrorist acts committed by certain extremist groups," he said.

Ulil added that intensified interfaith dialog is even more
relevant as the number of Muslim adherents was increasing in
Europe and the United States.

"Interfaith dialog should be intensified to promote religious
tolerance not only in European countries, but also in
predominantly Muslim nations," he said.

Rev. Andreas Ywangue, a scholar with the Indonesian Communion
of Churches (PGI), said he similarly was proud of Pope Benedict
XVI, who has expressed his strong commitment to promoting
interfaith dialog and giving more attention to youth.

He also said he was impressed with the new pope's name, which
was apparently taken to show his serious concern for victims of
injustice and violence, as Pope Benedict XV did in the past.

"We hope the new pontiff will pay greater attention not only
to war victims, but to the poor, the oppressed and the vulnerable
as well," Andreas said, citing that Pope Benedict XV, who led the
Roman Catholic Church from 1914 to 1922, focused his care for the
victims of World War I.