INDONESIA The R20, the World Forum of Religious Leaders, was inaugurated in Bali

Representatives of the different confessions meet a few days before the summit of heads of state and government. The Indian Archbishop Félix Machado is one of the Christian leaders who participate: “We have launched an appeal to forgive the wrongs received, which is the highest form of dialogue.”

Bali () – With a view to the imminent G20 summit, the Religious Leaders Forum (R20) was inaugurated today in Bali, an international meeting that precedes the summit of heads of state and government. The meeting takes place in Indonesia and will continue until tomorrow. This time the coordination is in charge of the Nahalatul Ulama (an association that includes 150 million Indonesian Muslims) and the World Muslim League.

In welcoming religious leaders from around the world, President Joko Widodo vindicated the model of coexistence between religions that is in force in Indonesia: “We are a heterogeneous country in terms of ethnic groups and religions -he said-, inhabited by more than 275 million people. people, 714 tribes and more than 1,100 languages, with 6 different religions. Despite its extreme diversity, Indonesia is united by the Pancasila doctrine and the national motto, ‘Unity in diversity’. We must work together -he added- to solve the world’s problems and pass on a peaceful and cooperative world to new generations”.

One of the personalities attending the meeting is Bishop Félix Machado, archbishop of the Indian diocese of Vasai. “The atmosphere is very cordial – he tells -. The tone is moderate: no religious leader has spoken on controversial issues, and all have reached out to each other to show a visible sign of human brotherhood. All have also said that religions must become a source of solutions for the problems that the world has to face at this time.

“Many times – adds Archbishop Machado – religions are considered to be an obstacle to human progress, and the challenge is to show that this is an erroneous perception. A call has been made to forgive the wrong that has been received, which is the highest form of dialogue. The objective is to build bridges of reciprocal understanding and unite to educate the religious community itself, to carry out constructive actions and to form more compassionate and merciful world leaders, who are capable of healing the wounds caused to the victims of injustice, violence, discrimination and widespread religious fundamentalism”.

Next year, India will assume the presidency of the G20 and therefore will also host the world summit of religious leaders.