To celebrate the 800th anniversary of the Canticle of the Creatures and the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’, the Order of Friars Minor of the Province of St. Michael the Archangel of Indonesia held an “Interfaith Youth Dialogue”. This activity carried the theme “Interfaith Youth Listening and Responding to the Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor”. The dialogue was held on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at 09.30-14.00 WIB in the Vincentius Putra Ballroom. It is interesting to note that students from various universities in Jakarta attended the dialogue. Besides sharing about “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor” from representatives of each religion, the dialogue also included various performances by the students who attended. At the end of the event the youth representatives issued a joint position statement.
There are some objectives in this Interfaith Youth Dialogue. First, to build a culture of interfaith encounter (communication, dialogue, and collaboration). Second, to know, understand, and realize the importance of manifesting a way of life based on the spirit of justice, peace, and the integrity of creation. Third, the phenomenon of the “cry of the earth” (environmental degradation, water pollution, air pollution, etc.) and the “cry of the poor” (hunger, limited employment, inequality, injustice, discrimination, etc.) are problems that must be addressed and resolved together. Fourth, believing that interfaith young people are agents of change and have an essential role in caring for the earth as our typical home, ensuring the realization of cosmic brotherhood with God, others, and the environment. Fifth, the sustainability of interfaith youth dialogue should be ensured through further activities, such as joint studies and joint actions related to humanity and ecology (environment).
In addition, the interfaith youth who attended answered the following questions in the sharing session. First, what are your views as young people (Muslim, Christian, Catholic, Hindu, Buddhist, Confucian) on the environmental and humanitarian crises? Second, why do you think ecological and humanitarian crises occur? Third, how are you involved in unravelling the environmental and humanitarian crises? Fourth, what is your commitment as individuals and on the scale of religious communities to minimize (overcome) humanitarian and ecological crises? Fifth, what are your proposals regarding the environmental and humanitarian crises for public policy making (government) and religious life (religious leaders)?
In this “interfaith youth dialogue”, the participants also declared the following joint statement: (1) The environmental and humanitarian crises are global problems, and to unravel these problems, we are committed to joining hands and together sustainably ensuring a sustainable environment and respect for human dignity. (2) Continuously promote in the community and through social media the importance of caring for the environment and upholding human dignity. (3) Actively engage and contribute to various activities related to issues of environmental crisis and humanitarian crisis. (4) Conduct academic studies on the phenomenon of environmental crisis and humanitarian crisis. (5) Provide input and evaluation to public policy makers (government) if the policies delivered and implemented hurt the environment and human dignity. (6) Being salt and light in the family, campus, religion, and society by providing examples of ways of life that love the environment and human dignity.
