Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Indonesian Catholics and Muslims have responded to Pope Francis' call for peace in Syria, stressing that "weapons are not the solution for settling conflicts;" they only end up "exacerbating the cycle of war."
The papal initiative, which has elicited the positive response of the local Bishops' Conference (KWI), has also touched non-Christians who have welcomed it, this in the world's most populous Muslim country. Together, activists, Islamic clerics and scholars strongly support every effort to "stop the escalation of the conflict", starting with "Muslim organisations".
During the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Francis called for a day of prayer and fasting for peace "in Syria, the Middle East and the world", an appeal also addressed to "believers of all faiths; even those who do not believe," a call accepted by Christian and non-Christian leaders, close to the Syrian people and ready to support an end to the conflict.
Indonesian Muslims have welcomed the initiative undertaken by the pope (and the Church), considered "an agent of peace and hope."
For Aan Anshori, coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Network (Jihad) based in East Java. the province with the largest number of moderate Muslims, the pope's step is a "serious decision" undertaken by a "modern Catholic Church," a leading force for the defence of "world peace".
The Church, he added, has been able to encourage the Muslim world to pursue this goal, and is again an important political player.
Sumanto Qurtuby, head of the North American Section of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), a moderate Indonesian Muslim organisation, has expressed his appreciation for the pope's initiative whose goals he shares.
In his view, everyone should support the political and religious efforts to stop the violence in Syria. "I agree with the pope's statement that guns are not the solution to the conflict. His decision should be supported."
Indonesia's bishops also responded with enthusiasm and conviction to the pope's appeal for peace and prayer, circulating his statement among Catholic communities and faithful.
Mgr Johannes Pujasumarta, archbishop of Semarang, addressed his diocese, which responded by manifesting strong support.
"I personally call on the faithful of all religions to join this movement for peace in the world," the bishop said, "especially in Syria" where the civil war has killed hundreds of thousands of people and caused devastation and horror.
Mgr Julianus Sunarko, bishop of Purwokerto in Central Java, made a similar appeal through diocesan media (internet, newspapers, TV).
Fr Aloysius Budi Purnomo, head of the Interfaith Commission in the Archdiocese of Semarang, issued a statement saying that once again Pope Francis has shown to be a "man of hope and compassion," a constant "source of inspiration" for making the world "a better place."