Pope makes appeal on extremism as he launches Asia tour

Pope Francis appealed Wednesday for religious unity to counter extremism and intolerance, as the longest tour of the 87-year-old's papacy got into full swing in Muslim-majority Indonesia.

On the first full day of his four-nation trip to the Asia-Pacific, the pontiff zeroed in on the role all faiths can play on flashpoint security issues.

"In order to foster a peaceful and fruitful harmony that ensures peace... the Church desires to strengthen interreligious dialogue," the pope said in a speech after meeting President Joko Widodo.

"(Extremists) through the distortion of religion attempt to impose their views by using deception and violence".

The pope also said self-interest was preventing the religious unity he had called for, and was driving wars around the world, without referring to a specific one.

"In various regions we see the emergence of violent conflicts, which are often the result... of the intolerant desire to let one's own interests, one's own position, or one's historical narrative prevail at all costs," he said.

Widodo echoed the pope's remarks.

"Freedom and tolerance is what Indonesia, together with the Vatican want, to spread... in the midst of an increasingly turbulent world," he said.

Indonesia, which is the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, has long struggled with Islamist militancy.

Bombings on the resort island of Bali in 2002 that killed 202 people were the deadliest in Indonesian history and led to a crackdown on militancy.

Catholics represent fewer than three percent of the population of Indonesia — about eight million people, compared with the 87 percent, or 242 million, who are Muslim.

But they are one of six officially recognised religions or...