Pope Francis and supreme Indonesian imam make joint call for peace

Being on a historic trip to the Asia Pacific region, Pope Francis has warned against using religion to fuel conflict, the BBC writes.

At the Istiqlal mosque in the capital Jakarta, the Pope signed a declaration on religious harmony and environmental protection with the mosque’s grand imam and met with local leaders of six religions.

Speaking at the mosque – the largest in South East Asia – the Pope on Thursday said people from different religions had to know “we are all brothers, all pilgrims”.

After Indonesia, Pope Francis will move to Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and Singapore.

To remind, the 87-year-old had earlier on Tuesday kicked off an 11-day visit to the region, the longest foreign trip of his papacy.