JAKARTA (SE): “It is a living witness that religious leaders can walk together, collaborate, and strengthen one another in building a more peaceful world,” Oswald Cardinal Gracias said, as cardinals, bishops, priests, religious, and lay delegates walked through the Friendship Tunnel connecting Jakarta’s Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption to the Istiqlal Mosque, Indonesia’s largest, after the closing Mass of the 12th Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences [FABC] on July 26.
The brief passage through the Friendship Tunnel powerfully expressed the assembly’s theme: “Synodal Conversion and the Mission to Be Bridges and Bridge-Builders in Asia.”
The tunnel has become an internationally recognised symbol of interreligious harmony, linking two places of worship that stand opposite one another in the heart of the Indonesian capital.
Upon arriving at Al-Fattah Gate, delegates removed their shoes before entering the mosque, where they were welcomed by Indonesia’s minister of Religious Affairs and the Grand Imam of Istiqlal Mosque, Nasaruddin Umar.
The delegation toured the mosque’s main prayer hall, learned about its history and architectural vision, and visited the Grand Terrace, where the mosque and cathedral can be seen standing side by side. The group also viewed the mosque’s giant bedug, a traditional ceremonial drum that remains an important part of Indonesia’s Islamic heritage.
The visit concluded with a dialogue between the FABC delegates and the Grand Imam.
Addressing the gathering, Umar said authentic religious faith should lead believers to serve others instead of creating division.
“To be a good Muslim or a good Catholic is to bring goodness to others,” he said.
Umar urged faith communities to work together to defend human dignity, promote peace, and build a better future for coming generations, saying differences should be opportunities for mutual enrichment rather than conflict.
Cardinal Gracias, the special envoy of Pope Leo XIV to the assembly, thanked the Grand Imam for the warm welcome and described the visit as a valuable lesson in openness and friendship.
“We have learned from your generosity, your openness, and your service,” the cardinal said.
It is a living witness that religious leaders can walk together, collaborate, and strengthen one another in building a more peaceful world
Cardinal Gracias
Reflecting on the shared spiritual foundations of Christianity and Islam, he said both the Bible and the Qur’an guide believers toward God and call them to become instruments of peace.
“Our task is to build harmony and work together for a better world,” he said.
Cardinal Gracias said the Friendship Tunnel represents far more than an architectural connection between two religious sites. “It is a living witness that religious leaders can walk together, collaborate, and strengthen one another in building a more peaceful world,” he said.
“This is our calling, our commitment, and our challenge today,” he added.
For many FABC delegates, the visit made the assembly’s discussions on synodality a tangible experience.
“I was so inspired by that encounter with the Grand Imam of Jakarta, of the Istiqlal Mosque, and I will—we will—take that home with us.” Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David, the vice president of the FABC and head of the commission for Synodality, told a press conference later that day. “Yes, we are brothers and sisters. We share a common humanity. So the mission isn’t just about promoting a religion; the mission is promoting a common humanity, common dignity, that we promote a civilisation of love.”
Bishop Anthony Subianto Bunjamin of Bandung, head of the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference, added, “We just heard from the Grand Imam today in the hall that for him, we do not talk anymore about tolerance. We change into unity.”
The symbolic walk from the cathedral to the mosque echoed one of the assembly’s central messages: that the Church’s mission in Asia is not only to proclaim the gospel but also to foster friendship, dialogue, and cooperation across religious and cultural boundaries.
