Pope, imam make joint call to fight violence, protect planet

Pope Francis, right, receives a miniature model of the Istiqlal Mosque as the Grand Imam of Istiqlal Mosque Nasaruddin Umar, left, looks on during an interreligious meeting with religious leaders at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Sept. 5, 2024.

Pope Francis and the grand imam of Southeast Asia’s largest mosque vowed Thursday to fight religiously inspired violence and protect the environment, issuing a joint call for interfaith friendship and common cause at the heart of Francis’ visit to Indonesia.