03:45Pope Francis praised Indonesia's motto - 'united in diversity' - as he gave an address during his meeting with President Joko Widodo at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday.
"Your national motto, 'Bineka Tugalika', which means 'United in Diversity' and relates to literally many [people], not one [person], manifests well this multifaceted reality of diverse peoples, firmly united in one nation," he said.
Indonesia is a Muslim-majority country, with 24 million Christians constituting 10 percent of the population, while Catholics make up about three percent of the whole population.
"He [God] stated that in recognising the presence of legitimate diversity, in respecting human rights and political rights of all citizens and in promoting the growth of national unity based on tolerance and respect for others, you, Indonesians, lay the foundation of just and peaceful society which all Indonesians want for themselves and which they want to pass on to their child," the pontiff added.
Pope Francis also stated that the 'emergence of violent conflicts' around the world was often from a 'lack of mutual respect' - or even a desire for those in power to 'unify everything', rather than leaving things to the 'autonomy of individuals and groups'.
"A considerable proportion of humanity is left on the sidelines, without the means to a dignified existence and without defence to cope with severe, growing and imbalances social triggering acute conflicts," he said.
Previously, Pope St. Paul VI and Pope St. John Paul II visited the country in 1970 and 1989, respectively.
It forms the first part of his 10-day-long visit to the Asia-Pacific. After spending three nights in Jakarta, Pope Francis is expected to travel on to East Timor, Singapore and Papua New Guinea.
'United in diversity' - Pope Francis addresses Indonesian people, meets with President Widodo on first leg of Asia-Pacific tour
Pope Francis praised Indonesia's motto - 'united in diversity' - as he gave an address during his meeting with President Joko Widodo at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday.
"Your national motto, 'Bineka Tugalika', which means 'United in Diversity' and relates to literally many [people], not one [person], manifests well this multifaceted reality of diverse peoples, firmly united in one nation," he said.
Indonesia is a Muslim-majority country, with 24 million Christians constituting 10 percent of the population, while Catholics make up about three percent of the whole population.
"He [God] stated that in recognising the presence of legitimate diversity, in respecting human rights and political rights of all citizens and in promoting the growth of national unity based on tolerance and respect for others, you, Indonesians, lay the foundation of just and peaceful society which all Indonesians want for themselves and which they want to pass on to their child," the pontiff added.
Pope Francis also stated that the 'emergence of violent conflicts' around the world was often from a 'lack of mutual respect' - or even a desire for those in power to 'unify everything', rather than leaving things to the 'autonomy of individuals and groups'.
"A considerable proportion of humanity is left on the sidelines, without the means to a dignified existence and without defence to cope with severe, growing and imbalances social triggering acute conflicts," he said.
Previously, Pope St. Paul VI and Pope St. John Paul II visited the country in 1970 and 1989, respectively.
It forms the first part of his 10-day-long visit to the Asia-Pacific. After spending three nights in Jakarta, Pope Francis is expected to travel on to East Timor, Singapore and Papua New Guinea.
Pope Francis praised Indonesia's motto - 'united in diversity' - as he gave an address during his meeting with President Joko Widodo at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday.
"Your national motto, 'Bineka Tugalika', which means 'United in Diversity' and relates to literally many [people], not one [person], manifests well this multifaceted reality of diverse peoples, firmly united in one nation," he said.
Indonesia is a Muslim-majority country, with 24 million Christians constituting 10 percent of the population, while Catholics make up about three percent of the whole population.
"He [God] stated that in recognising the presence of legitimate diversity, in respecting human rights and political rights of all citizens and in promoting the growth of national unity based on tolerance and respect for others, you, Indonesians, lay the foundation of just and peaceful society which all Indonesians want for themselves and which they want to pass on to their child," the pontiff added.
Pope Francis also stated that the 'emergence of violent conflicts' around the world was often from a 'lack of mutual respect' - or even a desire for those in power to 'unify everything', rather than leaving things to the 'autonomy of individuals and groups'.
"A considerable proportion of humanity is left on the sidelines, without the means to a dignified existence and without defence to cope with severe, growing and imbalances social triggering acute conflicts," he said.
Previously, Pope St. Paul VI and Pope St. John Paul II visited the country in 1970 and 1989, respectively.
It forms the first part of his 10-day-long visit to the Asia-Pacific. After spending three nights in Jakarta, Pope Francis is expected to travel on to East Timor, Singapore and Papua New Guinea.