Pope Francis to Indonesia: what for?

"There are many wars crippling the world, but Indonesia seems to be a model of peaceful coexistence."

These are the flattering words of Vatican News correspondent for Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo, in a recent interview, regarding Pope Francis' visit to the world's largest Muslim country this coming September.

While the eyes of international readers may be dazzled by the beautiful image of Indonesia portrayed by Cardinal Suharyo, one can imagine how many Christian minorities in the country being saddened to see their shepherd, instead of being their voice, has become the mouthpiece of the ruling regime. 

It is questionable how international catholic media such as Vatican News can promote such false truths? A sane person would realize that in a country where blasphemy and anti-interfaith marriage laws are in place, there can be no peaceful coexistence! The sad reality is that minority rights are being ignored. The poor are made to live in fear because the law only applies to the weak, but not to the strong.

Indigenous Christians in Papua, Indonesia's easternmost province annexed in the 1960s, have been experiencing a slow genocide without serious attention from the Church hierarchy. Yet, what a pity: Pope Francis seems more optimistic about meeting with Islamic leaders than human rights defenders who risk their lives for the sake of justice!

Here I would like to ask, why should the Pope spend so much time and energy to go to Indonesia, just to build pseudo-tolerance without wanting to touch more fundamental humanitarian issues?