'Religious diversity a blessing to all'

Jakarta, NU Online
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo delivered on Monday his Christmas message to all Indonesian Christians, emphasizing that the country’s religious diversity was to be embraced as a blessing, The Jakarta Post reported.

“To all Christians in Indonesia, I wish you a Merry Christmas. The country’s religious diversity is a blessing for us all,” Jokowi said on his official Twitter account @Jokowi.

Sending public greetings during religious holidays has become a tradition among the presidents of Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim majority country. The presidential holiday tradition also typically includes visiting houses of worship. During Christmas, presidents normally visit Jakarta Cathedral, among the oldest and largest churches in the country.

Jokowi, however, did not visit the cathedral on Christmas Day.

During Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, National Police Chief Gen. Tito Karnavian and Indonesian military (TNI) Commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto paid a visit to the cathedral to ensure that the government's rigorous security measures were allowing Christians to observe the holiday in peace.

“The government, in this case the police and the military, will safeguard Christmas,” Tjahjo told those who had gathered at the cathedral.

Last week, Jokowi ordered the National Police chief and the TNI commander to heighten security at vital locations and houses of worship over the Christmas and New Year holiday. (Masdar)