Ramos-Horta Praises Religious Tolerance and Harmony in Indonesia

Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta has praised religious tolerance and interfaith harmony in Indonesia. According to him, the diverse social life in Indonesia can serve as an example for the international community.

Ramos-Horta noted that one thing much of the world, particularly Western countries, does not yet know is the large number of Christians and Catholics in Indonesia. They, he said, are able to live peacefully side by side with the Muslim majority.

“I say, yes, they are a Muslim majority, but they also have more Catholics than several European countries, living in the most peaceful way, mutually tolerant and mutually accepting,” said Ramos-Horta in Jakarta on Friday (28/8).

The statement was made by Ramos-Horta while attending a meeting with Indonesia’s fifth president Megawati Soekarnoputri, a number of Nobel laureates, and scientists from various countries at the Megawati Institute in Menteng, Jakarta, on Friday.

He again emphasised the size of Indonesia’s Catholic population compared with a number of European countries.

“Indonesia is the country with the world’s largest Muslim majority, but it also has more Catholics than many countries in Europe,” he said.

Ramos-Horta estimated that the number of Catholics and Protestant Christians in Indonesia ranges from 30 million to 40 million people. Of that figure, the Catholic population is estimated at around 10 million to 14 million people.

According to Ramos-Horta, that figure is larger than the number of Catholics in several European countries.

“How many countries in Europe have 10 million or 14 million Catholics? This is what most people in the world do not know. They only know Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim majority,” Ramos-Horta explained.

For Ramos-Horta, religious diversity in Indonesia is not merely a matter of population numbers. He instead highlighted the community’s ability to maintain a harmonious life through mutual respect and acceptance of differences.

In addition to appreciating religious tolerance, Ramos-Horta also highlighted the resilience of the Indonesian people in facing various natural disasters.

He said Indonesia has a population of more than 300 million people spread across around 17,000 islands. These geographical conditions expose Indonesia to various disaster risks, including earthquakes and major floods.

According to Ramos-Horta, the Indonesian people have the ability to rise again after facing disasters.

“Nature is not so friendly to Indonesia because it continually experiences earthquakes and major floods. Nevertheless, every time it happens, the Indonesian people always rise again. And every time they rise, they become better,” he said.

Ramos-Horta also noted that geographical and social challenges have not diminished the famously friendly character of the Indonesian people. He said this warmth remains visible in the interactions of Indonesians with others.

“Despite all these challenges, the Indonesian people always remain the friendliest and warmest people in the world,” said Ramos-Horta.