PLN's Commitment to Monitor Pope Francis' 'Laudato Si' Call to Protect the Earth

JAKARTA, iNews.id – The sun's rays felt very strong, stinging the skin, when crossing Jalan Cathedral, Central Jakarta. The road is a barrier between two major religious houses of worship in Indonesia, Istiqlal Mosque And Cathedral Church.

These two religious symbols of Islam and Catholicism are silent witnesses to their presence Pope Francis in Indonesia on an apostolic journey on September 5 2024. A visit that will always be remembered by the Indonesian people along with the message of peace from the highest leader of the world Catholic Church.

Pope Francis, during his visit, which had the theme of faith, brotherhood and compassion, also encouraged us to protect planet Earth as a common home. This is part of the Encyclical Laudato Si which he issued in 2015 with the subtitle Concern for our Common Home, which calls on us to protect and care for nature from destruction.

The Pope's pastoral letter to the entire Catholic Church, Laudato Si, which in Italian means “Praise be to You”, criticizes consumerism and uncontrolled development and deplores environmental damage and global warming. The Pope called on everyone around the world to take unified and immediate global action to care for and restore it. This is the message that Pope Francis always echoes when visiting various countries, apart from inter-religious harmony and cooperation and peace.

In Indonesia, the Pope not only conveyed messages but also took real action. The Pope, whose real name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio, symbolically supports the movement to protect the earth by watering mangrove trees. The action was carried out at the Graha Pemuda Building, under the light from the power plant Solar (PLTS) which was installed on the roofs of the Jakarta Cathedral Church building complex.

So far, the rooftop PLTS at the Cathedral Church can produce 238.02 Kilowatt peak (kWp) or the equivalent of 183 house units with 1,300 watts of power. With that many solar panels, the Cathedral Church can save electricity costs by up to 30 percent than usual. In fact, this church received appreciation from the Indonesian World Records Museum or MURI as a church that implements the message 'Laudato Si'.

“In 2021 there will be a MURI award where the Cathedral Church is carrying out one of the Pope's appeals in the context of 'Laudato Si' by using electricity from solar power,” said Public Relations (PR) of the Archdiocese of Jakarta and the Cathedral Church, Susyana Suwadie when met by iNews , Tuesday (28/10/2024).

Pope Francis' visit to Indonesia touched the hearts of the Indonesian people, as one of the countries committed to overcoming climate change, as stated in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). People are invited to care for the earth, protect the environment and the sustainability of all living creatures without exception. The desire movement must be supported, one of which is by activating electricity savings through solar energy panels. Apart from being economical, solar panels are a source of renewable energy that offers great hope in overcoming the climate crisis.

“The Holy Father, the Pope, gave messages, one of which was a special message to us world Catholics, how we must make the earth a common home in what is called the Encyclical Laudato Si,” said Susyana.

Not only to Catholics, Pope Francis' warm message was also addressed to people of other religions who attended a meeting with cross-religious leaders at the Istiqlal Mosque, last September. The meeting resulted in the Istiqlal Declaration, a document confirming commitment to inter-religious harmony.

In the Istiqlal 2024 Joint Declaration Affirming Religious Harmony for Humanity which was signed by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque Nasaruddin Umar when visiting the Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta, 5 September 2024, two crucial problems in the world are currently in the spotlight. Dehumanization and climate change.

The Istiqlal Declaration destroys decisive action to protect the environment and its resources. The current climate crisis is the result of human actions. Human exploitation of God's creation, our common home, has contributed to climate change which causes various destructive impacts such as natural disasters, global warming and unpredictable weather patterns.

Realizing that a healthy, peaceful and harmonious living environment is very important to be a true servant of God and caretaker of creation, we sincerely urge all people of good will to take firm action, in order to protect the integrity of the living environment and its resources, because we have inherited it from previous generations and hope to be able to pass it on to our children and grandchildren,” reads the final point of the 2024 Istiqlal Declaration.

The declaration document was signed by Pope Francis and the Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque, Nasaruddin Umar, witnessed by other religious figures, including Gus Yahya Staquf from Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Abdul Mu'ti from Muhammadiyah, Jacky Manuputty from the Protestant Church, Vishnu Bawa Tenaya from Hindu representatives, Philips Kuncoro Wijaya from the Indonesian Buddhist Association (Permabudhi), Bhante Dhammasubho from the Representative of Indonesian Buddhists, Budi Tanuwibowo from Confucianism and Engkus Kuswara from the religious sect.

Just like the Cathedral Church, the Istiqlal Mosque also implements various efforts to protect the earth. One way is to use solar panels as a source of electricity. The result can save the Istiqlal Mosque's electricity costs by up to 30 percent.

“Yes, since reconstruction, Istiqlal has been designed to be environmentally friendly. Some of the ablution water has been recycled so that the water is not wasted and is used for watering plants. Also, the existing solar cells have saved 28 to 30 percent of Istiqlal's electricity needs,” said Public Relations Manager, Information Systems and Publications at the Istiqlal Ismail Cawidu Mosque Secretariat when found.