‘War must never be allowed to divide world religions’
On Saturday, 29 March, the Holy Father addressed the Bishops of the
Indonesian Episcopal Conference in the Clementine Hall on the occasion
of their Ad Limina visits to Rome. The following is the Pope's address
given in English.
Dear Brother Bishops,
1. "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ" (I Cor 1:3)! With these words of Saint Paul and with
affection in the Lord, I welcome you the Bishops of Indonesia on
the occasion of your visit ad Limina Apostolorum. Through
you I also embrace in spirit the clergy, religious and laity of your
particular Churches. Your travelling such a great distance to kneel at
the tombs of the Apostles, to join in prayer and to meet with the
Successor of Peter bears witness to the universal character of the
Church. As Successors of the Apostles, whose witness to Christ Crucified
and Risen is the sure foundation of the Church's proclamation of the
Gospel in every time and place, you have come to confirm your communion
in faith and charity. I give thanks that during these trying times you
were able to make this pilgrimage to share the faith, experiences and
insights of your local communities, as well as the challenges you face.
May the fruits of our meetings enrich the Church in Indonesia and
enhance your own pastoral ministry.
Foster peace, religious freedom 'advancement of the poor'
2. Your leadership helps to ensure that the Church is at the
forefront of fostering peace and harmony in a country composed of so
many various groups. Indeed, your Conference seeks to reflect the motto Bihneka
Tungal Ika, "unity in diversity", found on your national
coat-of-arms. Your differing ethnic and cultural backgrounds, brought
together in an atmosphere of faith, dialogue and mutual trust, can offer
a model of hope for all of Indonesia. At the opening of a new era,
Indonesia faces the challenge of building a society based on the
democratic principles of the freedom and equality of its citizens,
regardless of language, race, ethnic background, cultural heritage or
religion. I have no doubt that the Church will remain actively involved
in this endeavour by encouraging all peoples to continue to join with
one another in exercising their civic responsibilities through dialogue
and openness, avoiding every type of prejudice or bigotry. The
development of a society that embodies these democratic ideals will help
to curb the disturbing violence which has sadly plagued your country
over the last few years.
Religious freedom, which has been one of the traditional
characteristics of Indonesian Society, is guaranteed by the Nation's
Constitution. The Church must at all times remain vigilant to ensure
that this principle is respected on both the federal and local levels.
It is my hope that such efforts will help to create a climate where respect
for the rule of law becomes the new mind-set for a democratic
society which is tolerant and nonviolent. This important first step
begins with suitable human formation. As I said in my Encyclical Letter Centesimus
Annus, assisting "the individual through education and
formation in true ideals" is a necessary element for the creation
of a civic order marked by genuine concern for the common good (cf. n.
46). Particular attention in this regard must be given to the poor. The
Church is concerned that "the advancement of the poor constitutes a
great opportunity for the moral and cultural growth of all
humanity" (ibid., n., 28). Since Christ's message is one of
hope, his followers must always ensure that the less fortunate among us,
regardless of religion or ethnic background, are treated with the
dignity and respect demanded by the Gospel. Promoting the fundamental
rights of the weak is a proven path towards a stable and productive
society. The Church is called to "take her stand beside the
poor, to discern the justice of their requests and to help satisfy
them" (cf. Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, n. 39).
Promote Catholic education and catechetical formation
3. One of the most effective ways for the, Christian community to
help the poor is through education. In this area as well as in its
impressive system of charitable agencies, the Church in Indonesia is to
be commended. Although Catholics account for only a very small part of
the total population, they have developed a large and respected school
system. The Church's work in the field of education is recognized as one
of your greatest contributions to Indonesian society, and it certainly
remains an effective means for the transmission of Gospel values.
Catholic education, as an important part of the Church's catechetical
and evangelizing mission, must be based on a philosophy in which faith
and culture are brought together in harmonic unity (cf. Congregation for
Catholic Education, The Religious Dimension of Education in a
Catholic School, n. 34). Your efforts to preserve Catholic
schools, especially in impoverished non-Catholic areas and in the wake
of financial hardship, demonstrate your firm commitment to multicultural
solidarity and to the requirement of evangelical love for all. While it
is encouraging to note the high literacy rate within the population, one
cannot fail to be alarmed by the number of young people who do not go on
to secondary school. Your youth should be encouraged not to forego their
education for the lure of shallow and fleeting materialism. In this
regard, I would also like to highlight the essential work of catechists
in countries like Indonesia where the faithful are such a small
minority. The lack of access to Catholic education in some impoverished
areas, coupled with an environment at times in conflict with or even
hostile to Christianity, brings out the need to provide serious
programmes of catechetical formation for young and old alike. The
ecclesial community has a responsibility to ensure that its members are
welcomed into an "environment where they can live as fully as
possible what they have learned" (Catechesi Tradendae, n.
24). Catechesis is the task of the entire faith community and an
extension of the ministry of the word entrusted to the Bishop and his
clergy. It is an ecclesiastical responsibility which requires adequate
doctrinal and pedagogical formation. I encourage you to give all
possible support to those who have willingly undertaken the difficult
and demanding task of providing this essential service, for which the
entire Church is grateful.
Evangelization with inculturation, promoting the Gospel of Life
4. For some time your Bishops' Conference has recognized that
evangelization goes hand in hand with the profound, gradual and exacting
work of inculturation. The truth of the Gospel should always be
proclaimed in a way that is persuasive and relevant. This is especially
important in a complex society such as your own where, in some areas and
among certain groups, Catholicism is at times viewed with suspicion.
Yours is the delicate task of seeing that the Gospel maintains its
fundamental meaning, valid for all people and cultures, while also
communicating it in a way that is attentive to traditional values and
the family. As I said during my Pastoral Visit to Indonesia in 1989,
"the example of Christ and the power of his Paschal Mystery
penetrate, purify and elevate all culture, every culture" (Homily
at Yogyakarta, 10 October 1989).
Successful inculturation depends on couples and families who embody
the Christian vision of their vocation and responsibility. I encourage
you, therefore, to continue to promote the traditional values
of the family so closely tied with Asian culture (cf. Ecclesia
in Asia, n. 6), infusing them with the new life that comes
from the Gospel. The serious concerns about growing threats to family
life which you have voiced on many occasions must not be overlooked. A
true "conspiracy against life" (cf. Evangelium Vitae, n.
17) and the family is appearing in many forms: abortion, sexual
permissiveness, pornography, drug abuse and pressures to adopt morally
unacceptable methods of population control. Notwithstanding the
difficulties involved in countering these tendencies in a non-Christian
society, you as Bishops are "the first ones called to be untiring
teachers of the Gospel of life" (ibid., n. 82). At
all times, the Church's prophetic voice must loudly proclaim the need to
respect and promote the divine law written on every heart (cf. Rom
2:15). By listening, dialogue and discernment, Bishops must assist their
flocks in living the Gospel in a way that is fully compatible with the
deposit of faith and the bonds of ecclesial communion (cf. Redemptoris
Missio, n. 54).
'Authentic religion does not advocate terrorism or violence'
5. As some of you have mentioned, the Church in Indonesia is one that
lives and suffers with the people, confronting the challenges arising
from daily contact with a non-Christian society. It is a community that
seeks a path of integral human development in the context of religious
harmony and tolerance, offering and receiving much within a complex
cultural milieu. There already exists a commendable level of
interreligious dialogue in your country on an institutional level. This
mutual exchange of religious experiences has found practical expression
in the interreligious charity projects and collaboration which have been
undertaken, particularly following natural disasters. Even in
predominantly Muslim areas, the Church is actively present in
orphanages, clinics and institutions dedicated to helping the
downtrodden. This is a wonderful expression of the boundless nature of
Christ's love; a love not for a few but for all.
Here, I wish to assure you of my deep concern for the beloved
Indonesian people at this moment of heightened tension in the entire
world community. War must never be allowed to divide world
religions. I encourage you to take this unsettling moment as an
occasion to work together, as brothers committed to peace, with your own
people, with those of other religious beliefs and with all men and women
of good will in order to ensure understanding, cooperation and
solidarity. Let us not permit a human tragedy also to become a religious
catastrophe (cf. Address to the Interreligious Delegation
from Indonesia, 20 February 2003).
At the same time, I am well aware that certain portions of the
Christian community in your nation have suffered from discrimination and
prejudice, while others have been victimized by acts of destruction and
vandalization. In some areas Christian communities have been denied the
permission to build places of worship and prayer. Indonesia, together
with the international community, was recently stunned at the terrible
loss of life due to the terrorist bombing in Bali. In all of this,
however, one must be careful not to yield to the temptation to define
groups of people by the actions of an extremist minority. Authentic
religion does not advocate terrorism or violence, but seeks
to promote in every way the unity and peace of the whole human family.
Future priests and religious need proper and ongoing formation
6. Since Christians constitute a very small minority in your country,
they are especially called to be "leaven in the dough" (cf. Mt
13:33). Despite hardship and sacrifice, your priests and religious
continue to bear daily witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ,
bringing many to the Gospel. Because "the Church in Asia finds
herself among people who display an intense yearning for God" (Ecclesia
in Asia, n. 9), you are challenged to find concrete ways of
meeting that need. Indeed, your efforts to promote vocations to the
priesthood and the religious life reflect your awareness of this duty. I
commend you for your insistence on maintaining high standards of
education and formation in seminaries and religious houses. Concern and
attention shown in selecting and training candidates for the priesthood
and religious life always redound to the benefit of the local Church.
Since formation and spiritual development are life-long processes,
Bishops have an essential responsibility to assist their priests by
making available to them programmes of continuing formation, retreats
and time for prayer and fellowship. An important element in this
formation, both initial and continuing, is an adequate training
in the theology and spirituality of the liturgy. "The
liturgy is the source and summit of all Christian life and mission. It
is also a decisive means of evangelization, especially in Asia where the
followers of different religions are so drawn to worship, religious
festivals and popular devotions" (cf. Ecclesia in Asia, n.
22). Your priests need to be given opportunities to be both nourished by
that liturgy and to become experts in bringing its richness to others,
so that its depth, beauty and mystery will always shine forth.
The spiritual and moral support which you give to the men and women
Religious in your Dioceses is also a significant part of your episcopal
ministry. Members of Religious Institutes have played an indispensable
role in bringing the Good News to the men and women of Indonesia and in
a special way to the poor and the outcast. In this important work, they
must always be helped to strengthen their consecration to the Lord
through their daily living of the evangelical counsels. "All who
have embraced the consecrated life are called to become leaders in the
search for God, a search which has always stirred the human heart and
which is particularly visible in Asia's many forms of spirituality and
asceticism" (Ecclesia in Asia, n. 44). For this
reason, Religious can have an essential role in the Church's overall
commitment to evangelization.
7. Dear Bishops, it is in a spirit of faith and communion that I have
shared with you these reflections on certain aspects of the care of
God's beloved people in Indonesia. Through your presence, I feel very
close to the Indonesian faithful, and in this moment of uncertainty it
is my fervent prayer that they will be strengthened in Christ. I commend
all of you to the intercession of Mary, Queen of the Rosary, who
embraces all who call on her in distress and never fails to ask for
their deliverance from evil. In the love of Jesus Christ, I impart to
you and the faithful of your Dioceses my Apostolic Blessing.
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