Auditorium of Prof. Dr. Suwito, MA SPs UIN Jakarta, SPs NEWS - The Auditorium of Prof. Dr. Suwito, MA Graduate School (SPs) UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta was filled with a warm and intimate atmosphere on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. SPs UIN Jakarta held a Studium Generale entitled "Relations between the Catholic Church and Indonesian Muslims". This event is not just an ordinary public lecture, but a firm statement that interfaith meeting rooms are a means to understand humanity. In the midst of diversity, this event is here to tear down the dividing wall and replace it with a bridge of understanding.

The speaker at this event was Dr. Greg Soetomo, SJ, a Catholic chaplain who also serves as the Socius of the Asia Pacific Jesuit Conference. The presence of Father Greg, as he is familiarly called, at SPs feels special because this is not just a guest visit, but a momentum of "academic return". Father Greg is an alumnus of SPs UIN Jakarta, where he completed his master's and doctoral studies with a focus on Islamic history and thought. He returned to his alma mater with a strong message about the importance of building interpersonal connections.

In a fluid discussion session, Father Greg emphasized the philosophy of "Build Bridges, Not Walls," a spirit he adopted from Pope Francis' message. According to him, the identity of a true Catholic is seen when they are able to become a bridge of brotherhood for others, not to erect a dividing barrier. This narrative becomes relevant in the midst of the challenges of global intolerance, inviting participants to see differences as opportunities to enrich their minds, not threats.

One of the highlights of the meeting was when Father Greg showed his latest draft book in front of the participants of the studium generale. The book is a summary of the 100 topics that Catholics are most often asked about Islam. Uniquely, this book does not only deal with heavy theology, but also touches on light aspects such as hobbies and art, designed specifically as a practical guide for Catholics to get to know their Muslim neighbors more closely.

Father Greg explained that his book was titled with the keyword "Toward" or "To Lead". This choice of words is very philosophical, implying that interreligious dialogue is not a static final result or finish line, but rather a continuous process of search that may last a lifetime. He emphasized that trying to understand the "other" is a long journey that requires humility and patience.

Furthermore, Father Greg dissects the concept of dialogue into four main domains: dialogue of life, action, religious experience, and academic theology. He extracted these four elements from his own experience while studying at UIN Jakarta. For him, dialogue does not only take place in the seminar room, but also in simple but meaningful daily interactions.

The atmosphere of the auditorium became boisterous with laughter when Father Greg told a witty anecdote about his Muslim friends who visited his house and asked about his wife's whereabouts. When it was explained that a priest was not married, his friends laughed and immediately referred to him as a "Sufi". It is these fluid and witty moments that he says are proof that true brotherhood often grows from misunderstandings that are answered with a smile and openness.

However, the most touching point of Father Greg's presentation was his honest confession of the transformation of faith he had experienced. Spending many years studying Islam at SPs UIN Jakarta did not shake his faith, quite the opposite. "I am a greater Catholic now, they are greater Muslims now," he said. He felt that by contemplating and reflecting on the teachings of Islam explained by his lecturers, he discovered the richness of his own traditions that had been perhaps overlooked, strengthening his Catholic identity intellectually and spiritually.

Father Greg's commitment to interfaith dialogue does not stop at words or writings. Closing his discussion, he announced a real action plan in the form of an exposure program  that will be held in July next year. He plans to bring about 20 Catholics, including future priests, to live and "study" in the UIN Syarif Hidayatullah environment for ten days. This initiative is designed to provide a live-in experience so that prejudices can be eroded by real interactions.

This Studium Generale is finally clear evidence that educational institutions such as SPs UIN Jakarta play a crucial role in caring for diversity. Through open and academic dialogue presented by figures such as Father Greg Soetomo, the spirit of tolerance, religious moderation, and social harmony is no longer just a discourse, but a real practice that continues to be fought for a more peaceful future of Indonesia. (JA)