Catholics can learn something from Muslims, the Vatican's official for interreligious dialogue has affirmed during his visit to Indonesia. Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran said this Wednesday in reference to what he called the "very strong spirituality" of Muslims.

"They wake up early in the morning to pray," he said, as reported by UCA News. "Our young priests should follow this example [...] waking up early in the morning to pray to start their daily activities." 

The cardinal is in Indonesia for a week-long trip that ends Tuesday, his first official visit to the nation. On Wednesday, he visited the national Istiqlal mosque, the largest in Southeast Asia.

"We, Catholics, must be witnesses to the surrounding communities. This is one of the meanings of interreligious dialogue. And to be witnesses, we need to have a deep spirituality," he said at the Assumption Cathedral Church in Central Jakarta.

He has stressed Benedict XVI's position that "dialogue is not optional but a necessity." The cardinal is also encouraging interreligious dialogue "based on tolerance, mutual respect and cooperation."