Austrian Ambassador to Indonesia, Dr. Thomas Loidl (standing), delivers remarks at the opening of the Roundtable Discussion on Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy, at the Austrian Embassy in Jakarta, May 14, 2025.
Jakarta, LKLB News – The Austrian Embassy in Jakarta and the Leimena Institute collaborated to hold the Roundtable Discussion on Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy: Building Social Capital Through Interreligious Dialogues on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. The event brought together panelists from Indonesian religious leaders, discussing efforts to strengthen social cohesion amid a polarized and fragmented world.
The discussion aimed to provide an opportunity for exchanging experiences and lessons learned, while also offering meaningful perspectives from Indonesia’s successful implementation of the Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy (CCRL) program since 2021. Attendees included 17 representatives from embassies of European Union member states and others in Jakarta.
“In our increasingly divided and polarized world, interreligious and intercultural dialogue is more needed than ever as input for our national policies and international cooperation. This forum contributes to that important endeavor,” said Austrian Ambassador to Indonesia, Dr. Thomas Loidl, in his opening remarks at the Austrian Embassy in Jakarta.
Professor of Philosophy at Driyarkara School of Philosophy (STF), Father Dr. Franz Magnis-Suseno, joined by Director of Public Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Ani Nigeriawati, Executive Director of the Leimena Institute, Matius Ho, and Austrian Ambassador to Indonesia, Dr. Thomas Loidl.
Religious figures present included Professor of Philosophy at Driyarkara School of Philosophy (STF), Father Dr. Franz Magnis-Suseno; Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Former Presidential Special Envoy for the Middle East and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Dr. Alwi Shihab; and Member of the Steering Committee of the Agency for Pancasila Ideology Development (BPIP), Prof. Dr. Amin Abdullah.
Also attending were Director of Public Diplomacy at the Directorate General of Information and Public Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Ani Nigeriawati; Coordinator of the Special Staff of the Minister of Religious Affairs, Farid F. Saenong; and Executive Director of the Leimena Institute, Matius Ho.
Although Austria and Indonesia differ in characteristics and are geographically distant, both countries share common values in respecting religious and cultural diversity. In 2007, the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs established a task force on interreligious and intercultural dialogue, with Indonesia becoming one of its first partner countries since 2010. Most recently, the 8th Austria–Indonesia interreligious dialogue was held in Jakarta and Bandung in July 2024.
Participants and speakers of the Roundtable Discussion on Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy: Building Social Capital Through Interreligious Dialogues.
In line with this, Indonesia’s success in implementing the CCRL program stands as a concrete example to the world of efforts to build social capital—mutual trust among people of different faiths. To date, the CCRL program has reached more than 10,000 teachers from 38 provinces across Indonesia. Its success is the result of collaboration between the Leimena Institute and more than 30 partners, including educational institutions, religious organizations, and government agencies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia.
The discussion, moderated by Deputy Head of Mission of the Austrian Embassy in Jakarta, Michael Wislocki, lasted approximately 2.5 hours. It was highly productive and received positive responses from participants. As an archipelagic nation with highly complex religious, ethnic, and cultural diversity, Indonesia’s experience in managing pluralism has become an invaluable example for many countries.