the war, the calls for dialogue that nobody listens to and the Churches

At the General Conference of the Churches of Asia – which concludes tomorrow in Bangkok – the issue of growing conflicts challenges the Episcopal Conferences of the continent. Cardinal Gracias, from Mumbai: “Let’s not stop at words, let’s encourage civil society so that there is reconciliation”. Cardinal Tagle, envoy of Pope Francis: “The Gospel tells us that God acts through the little ones. Being a minority is also a mission”.

Bangkok () – At a time when conflicts are multiplying dramatically, how can the Churches become a sign of peace? It is one of the topics that has been talked about a lot these days at FABC50, the General Conference of the Churches of Asia that is being held in Bangkok. The Conference brought together 226 delegates from the Catholic communities of 29 Asian countries and will conclude with the Eucharistic celebration presided over at the Cathedral of the Assumption by Card. Luis Antonio Tagle, special envoy of Pope Francis. During the mass, a message from the Churches to the peoples of Asia will also be announced, while the final summary document on the new paths to travel together will see the light of day in a few months.

One of the challenges that the Church must face are precisely the conflicts that not only stain Europe with blood. How to act as Christians in the face of the violence of war? The question was also raised during the press conference offered today by Cardinal Tagle together with the three presidents of the general conference: Cardinal of Rangoon, Charles Bo, president of the FABC, Card. from Mumbai, Oswald Gracias and Card. of Bangkok, Francis Xavier Kriengsak.

“Many voices in the Church – commented Cardinal Tagle – today call for dialogue, diplomacy to resolve conflicts. Every Sunday at the Angelus, the Pope reminds the countries of the world where there is a thirst for peace, inviting the parties to meet and dialogue with each other. But the question is: what can we do when that doesn’t happen? We launch appeals, with the loudest voice or the humblest tone. But then it’s up to the political leaders to listen or not.”

“Conflicts, violence and fundamentalism are also growing in Asia – Cardinal Gracias echoed -. And it is important that as a Church we do not remain in the callings, that we work for peace, reconciliation, harmony. Speak in the name of Christ, of truth, of justice, without inferiority complexes. We must reflect on it, assume a stronger role, encouraging civil society and showing that peace works, that it is progress. Whereas war only means steps backwards.”

“However, there are times when there is no dialogue – observed Cardinal Bo – as is happening to us today in Myanmar. The parties to the conflict don’t even talk about it anymore. In these contexts, men of faith, and Catholics in particular , we have the task of continuing to pray for peace, so that when the time comes it can really be built”.

“The gesture of Pope Francis who kissed the feet of the leaders of South Sudan – added Cardinal Kriengsak – was a good example. The whole world saw that gesture and wondered. Then, of course, the testimony is entrusted to those who are called to receive it. But knowing that things change step by step, not in a single day.

For his part, Cardinal Tagle invited us to reflect with an evangelical gaze on the minority condition of the Churches of Asia. “In the continent where two thirds of the world’s population live – he recalled – we are numerically a minority. And so are we even within our own institutions: in Thailand, out of 300,000 Catholic school students, only 2% are Christian. But the parables of the Kingdom show us that God always acts through the little ones. The fact of being on the sidelines, of not being heard, does not prevent the Church in Asia from living her mission. And this must also be remembered in the Philippines or in East Timor, where we are the majority: the Kingdom is built on humility, on compassion, on solidarity with the little ones in society”.

Lastly, the Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization raised the question of the challenge posed to the Church by the new digital paths that were opened during the pandemic and that today must be traveled with increasing insistence but also without confusion. The decline in church attendance after Covid19 forces Asia to reflect: “Social networks will continue to be active in our society – commented Tagle – and as a Church we must be fully aware of this. Remembering, however, that the sacramental reality passes through sensible signs such as water in baptism, and bread and wine in the Eucharist. Once the emergency is over, the Church must also return to normal life. The challenge is to learn from the pandemic: in addition to the online celebrations, there have been many catechesis, biblical paths, forms of accompaniment. We have to pick up from there and ask ourselves how the digital world can really become a tool to promote truth, attention to the other and the transformation of society”.