Jakarta – A delegation led by Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) youth wing GP Ansor chairman Yaqut Cholil Qoumas met with Pope Francis in the Vatican on Wednesday, during which the group expressed its support for the Pope's world peace document.
The "Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together" document, was signed by Francis and Ahmed el-Tayeb, the grand imam of Al Azhar, in February during Francis' trip to the United Arab Emirates, the first time a pontiff had visited the Arabian Peninsula.
The two religious leaders discussed interfaith harmony in the Arab world and across the globe, urging political leaders and influencers to "work strenuously to spread the culture of tolerance and of living together in peace".
"In the meeting [with Francis], GP Ansor delivered [its own] declaration on Islam for humanity," Yaqut said in a press release, adding that it contained a call to build a global consensus to prevent people from using religions, especially Islam, as a political weapon because religions should be a solution for peace and not a source of conflict.
In the meeting, which took place after the weekly public audience in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis said that religious people always maintained brotherhood and lived side by side in peace.
"I pray for you, you pray for me, we are brothers," he said, according to the press release. (dis)