He is the youngest cardinal in the Church. His five tips for a mature faith: pray, proper catechesis on the actions of the devil, pay attention to questions of “demonology”, celebrate the expulsion of “impure forces” and train priests.
Moscow () – The website CentralAsia published a presentation of the brand new Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, 47, administrator of the Catholics of Mongolia, who will receive the purple from Pope Francis at the August 27 consistory. In addition to being the youngest cardinal in the Church, the Consolata missionary, currently in Ulan-Bator, has worked as an exorcist for more than 20 years, which makes him very valuable in Mongolian lands.
Mongolia, where there are an estimated 1,500 Catholics, has a long tradition of isolation from any Western influence. One of the oldest and most deeply rooted religions in the local population is shamanism, with more than 10,000 followers in a country of almost three and a half million inhabitants. Shamanism was persecuted during the period of the communist dictatorship, and is now flourishing again in the Mongol lands of Russia.
The bishop commented on his appointment: “For me, living with this new vocation means continuing a path of poverty, humility and dialogue”, he recalled. His dedication to the fight against demons has also made him a master of exorcism among the brothers who receive He was one of the lecturers at the 16th course on exorcism and liberation prayer held every year at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical Athenaeum in Rome, which he began attending as a student.
As he himself recounted, the inhabitants of Mongolia who prepare for baptism face very particular difficulties, in which one can see how the tricks of the Evil One separate them from the graces offered by the redemption of Christ. Marengo recalls that this type of action was very perceptible from the beginning of his mission: “The priests who served in these lands had to be reminded to get in tune with the first disciples of the Lord, who announced the Gospel, expelled demons and healed to the sick.”
Not only Mongolia is steeped in ancient superstitions, recalls the bishop. The “new paganism” spreads throughout all the societies of the world, due to the incessant and universal work of the prince of darkness: “It never ceases to be timely and necessary to condemn superstition, because in it we weaken faith and end up becoming its slaves, to escape our fears and uncertainties”. Christ, on the other hand, “trusted totally in God the Father, and the humility of the believer consists in placing his trust in Him, unconditionally.”
The new cardinal offers five fundamental pieces of advice for a mature faith free from satanic illusions: first of all, prayer, with Eucharistic adoration and devotion to Mary, giving great importance to the liturgical texts that invoke the healing of body and soul. In his opinion, the Mongolian experience shows how “everything changes with the spread of the adoration of the Eucharist.”
The second way is that of an “adequate catechesis on the actions of the devil and the possibilities of combating it.” Therefore, one must pay close attention to those who try to discuss “questions of demonology”. A fourth advice refers to the “celebration of the expulsion of the impure forces, when necessary”, always respecting the norms of the Church. Finally, the bishop insists on the training of priests and religious in matters of spiritual health and the fight against the Evil One.
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