Pope urges to 'defeat culture of violence, indifference'

(ANSA) - ROME, SEP 5 - Pope Francis on Thursday called for the promotion of "religious harmony to benefit humanity" as the "inspiration we are called to follow and which also gives the title to the joint declaration prepared for this occasion" at an inter-faith meeting at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, during his visit to the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation.
    In the declaration, said the pontiff addressing leaders of Indonesia's six recognised religions - Islam, Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Hinduism and Confucianism - "we assume with responsibility the grave and at times dramatic crises threatening the future of humanity, in particular wars and conflicts, unfortunately also stoked by religious instrumentalizations, as well as the environmental crisis, which has become an obstacle to the growth and cohabitation of populations.
    "And faced with this scenario, it is important for values that are common to all religious traditions to be promoted and strengthened, helping society to 'defeat the culture of violence and of indifference' and to promote reconciliation and peace", said the pope. (ANSA).