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.