"The spirit of brotherhood and religious harmony must not end up as merely a declaration. This spirit must always be present and expressed in every public space," he noted in a statement.
Soesatyo made the remarks during the commemoration of the International Day of Human Fraternity and the World Interfaith Harmony Week at the Nusantara IV Building in Parliamentary Building Complex, Senayan, on Sunday.
He explained that religious entities are capable of inspiring, motivating, and moving people who have boundless loyalty.
The religious morality values also teach about empathy, as well as upholding human dignity as a way to serve God.
Moreover, every religion upholds values of brotherhood and harmony, both of which are culmination of ideas which have become a universal language. That is why these values can be accepted by everyone despite the differences in their backgrounds.
"That every human being is created differently. Such is human nature, which prompts us to get to know each other, interact, and work together," he said.
The commitment to living alongside others within diversity and working together for humanitarian causes leads to the declaration of Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together which was signed by Pope Francis and Al Azhar's Grand Imam Ahmed el-Tayeb on February 4, 2019, Soesatyo remarked.
"The declaration represents the strong desire of interfaith communities to develop synergy and collaboration, and to actively contribute to pursuing a peaceful world," he remarked.
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Translator: Putu Indah Savitri, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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