In the country with the largest number of Muslims in the world, the Pope condemned religious extremism.
This was his first message in Indonesia, during the protocol meeting with local authorities in one of the presidential palaces.
POPE FRANCIS
There are cases where faith in God is continually placed in the forefront, but often to be manipulated and not to build peace, fellowship, dialogue, respect, cooperation and fraternity, but to foster divisions and hatred.
With over 280 million people, Indonesia is also one of the most populous countries in the world. There, the Pope also condemned policies and cultures that promote birth control.
POPE FRANCIS
With a law of death, that is to say: limiting births, limiting the greatest wealth that a country has, which is births. And in your country, on the other hand, there are families of three, four, five children who go ahead and this can be seen in the average age of the country. Keep it up. It is an example for all, for all the countries where— perhaps this makes you laugh—there are families that prefer to have a cat or a dog instead of a child. It is true.
Pope Francis was welcomed by Indonesia's President who will leave office in October. During his speech, the President lamented the conflicts around the world and made special mention of Gaza, condemning the loss of over 40,000 people.
Of countries in Southeast Asia, Indonesia is known as one with high potential for economic growth, following its democratic reform in the 1990s. China is one of its main trading partners.
JRB
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