Jakarta. Indonesia’s motto of “unity in diversity”, popularly known as “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika”, dominated the historic talks between President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Pope Francis on Wednesday. 

Jokowi alongside his ministers hosted the Catholic church leader at Jakarta’s  Presidential Palace for the long-awaited meeting, which previously got postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Jokowi began his speech by pointing out how important it is to cherish differences, while saying how the people of the multifaith and culturally diverse Indonesia live in harmony as portrayed by the Bhinneka Tunggal Ika slogan. 

“To Indonesia, differences are a blessing, and tolerance is the ‘fertilizer’ that unites us all and brings peace. Indonesia is very lucky to uphold [the national ideology] Pancasila and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika so we all can live peacefully side by side,” Jokowi said. 

The Indonesian leader also said that his country and the Vatican City were like-minded about the importance of promoting global peace as conflicts strike the world, including the Gaza crisis that has claimed the lives of over 40,000 people. Indonesia also thanked the Vatican for promoting the two-state solution, which sees Palestine and Israel living side by side as two separate states. 

“Let us all celebrate our differences, accept one another, and become more tolerant for a peaceful and better world for all mankind,” Jokowi said. 

Speaking after Jokowi, Pope Francis also talked of Indonesia’s signature motto. The pope said: “Your national motto, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, united in diversity, literally means different but still united, expressing the multifaceted reality of peoples firmly united in one nation.”

“This motto shows that just as your country’s biodiversity becomes a source of richness and beauty, so too your differences contribute to a vast mosaic in which each ceramic is an irreplaceable element in creating an authentic and valuable work,” he added.

Indonesia is home to around 270 million people spread across 17,000 islands. The country has 714 ethnic groups -- each having their own cultural characteristics. Indonesia officially recognizes six religions -- Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism. Muslims make up a majority part of the population. 

The pope will be in Jakarta until Friday. He plans on leading a holy mass at the Gelora Bung Karno stadium on Thursday evening.