President Jokowi Meets Church Leaders

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) met Christian leaders from the Communion of Indonesian (Protestant) Churches (PGI) and the Indonesian Catholics Bishop Conference (KWI) at the State Palace on Tuesday.

"We spoke about Christmas messages along with the PGI and the KWI," KWI Presidium Chairman Ignatius Suharyo noted at a press conference after a meeting with President Jokowi.

Suharyo said his side has called on Indonesian Christians to make joint efforts to ensure just and prosperous development and to live in peaceful co-existence with all citizens of the country.

"We must be ready to live together in peaceful co-existence with all fellow citizens though we have our differences," he affirmed.

The KWI presidium chairman represented the Catholic churches to request President Jokowi to call at the Vatican, which is the center of Catholic churches, if he visited Europe.

"This is because we want to showcase Indonesias unique characteristics to the world, one of them being its peaceful and harmonious co-existence," he pointed out.

Suharso said that Europe is currently facing an influx of migrants from various ethnic and religious backgrounds.

"It appears as though they were surprised and not yet ready to live in this way. Hence, the Italian president visited our beloved country, Indonesia, to study how we live together peacefully," the KWI leader stated.

He said if President Jokowi visited Vatican, it would have a positive impact, and Indonesia would be recognized globally as the worlds largest and predominantly Muslim populated country, which has a tolerant outlook.

"We are open, tolerant, and modern Muslims with a special character and respect for solidarity. I hope that the president will showcase Indonesia as a country with these unique traits to the highest Catholic leader," he added. (WDY)