Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI on Monday praised authorities in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation for "promoting interreligious cooperation."But the pontiff who made the remarks in a meeting with Indonesia's new ambassador to the Vatican, Suprapto Martosetomo, also stressed the need for "constant vigilance" to ensure people enjoyed the right to practice their faiths freely.
"Indonesia, a multi-religious country with the largest Muslim population of any nation in the world plays an important and positive role in promoting interreligious cooperation, both within its borders and in the international community," Benedict said according to a Vatican statement.
Benedict said such cooperation was particularly important between Christians and Muslims who "worship the one God who is the Creator and beneficent Lord of the whole of human life."
The pontiff said that although Catholics in Indonesia are a small minority- the total population is estimated to be 235 million, with over 85 per cent Muslim - they contributed to society through a network of educational and health care institutions.
"While their (Christians) right to the free exercise of their religion in complete equality with their fellow citizens is guaranteed by the national Constitution (of Indonesia) the protection of this fundamental human right calls for constant vigilance on the part of all," Benedict said.
In September last year the Vatican criticised Jakarta for the execution of three Christians convicted of masterminding a series of attacks on Muslims in the archipelago nation's region of Sulawesi that killed at least 70 people in 2000.
The executions of the men for which the Vatican had asked clemency sparked riots with thousands of protesters torching cars and looting shops.