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Author: Mary Yuen
Ever since Francis was elected as the pope, he has won the hearts of many people. His humility, simplicity, reaching out to the poor and marginalized, such as refugees, migrants, homeless, abuse victims, victims due to climate change, and sexual minorities, challenging the globalization of indifference, and emphasizing mercy and joy in the Gospel as essential in evangelization – all manifested that he was a person of God truly in communion with the Gospel, winning a lot of applause from all walks of life. He is truly a moral and religious leader. In his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (the Joy of Gospel), he emphasized that a dynamic, outgoing missionary Church is the model for all the Church’s activities.
During his 12 years pontificate, Pope Francis has promulgated many Church documents, covering a wide range of topics, from social issues, church-related matters, to spiritual life, manifesting his vision of the Church and society. Among them, two social encyclicals Laudato Si (on care for our common home) in 2015, and Fratelli Tutti (on fraternity and social friendship) in 2020, depict his social vision. They are timely responses of the Church towards the ecological crisis and social problems brought about by the attitudes of indifference, division and polarization. The former calls for ecological conversion, reminding all people of the duties and shared responsibility for our common home. Whereas the latter calls for nurturing the culture of encounter and solidarity, rebuilding fraternity and social friendship at all levels of society, working towards peace and reconciliation.
Meanwhile, inside the Church, despite many obstacles, he carried out reform of the Roman Curia, improved the status of women by listening to their voices, and appointed more women in leadership positions, and confronting the sexual abuse scandal through introducing new practices and policies. These actions have invited both praise and criticism as all these relate to fundamental reform of the structure and the way of doing things in the Church.
For the Asian Church which always emphasizes the triple dialogue – dialogue with the poor and marginalized, Asian culture, and Asian religions, in a multi-cultural and multi-religious context, many Asians resonate with Pope Francis’ vision and mission of healing the wounds of people and welcoming different kinds of people through building a more inclusive Church.
We can see that Pope Francis kept the Asian Church in his heart. Asian countries such as East Timor, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Singapore, Mongolia, Sri Lanka are among the many countries he visited. These countries, except Singapore, are often being neglected, considered as without much economic power or political influence. Once again, these visits reflect that Francis has drawn attention to countries and church communities which are on the margins of the world stage. Francis also expressed his concern and hope of visiting China but could not fulfill. Nevertheless, a provisional agreement was signed between China and the Holy See on the appointment of bishops on September 22, 2018, with both support and criticism. Despite all the difficulties, Francis would like to see the dialogue between China and the Holy See continues as he is a bridge-builder.
During his pontificate, Pope Francis promoted “synodality” as an ecclesial way of proceeding, a way of life and doing things in the Church, in order to facilitate the mission of evangelization. The vision envisages a real theological transition from a strongly hierarchical church to a community of all Catholic people, aiming at building an inclusive church. This is also a challenge to the Church as people have different understanding and commitment to this renewal way of Church. As Asian Christians living in a place of diversity in terms of culture, religion, and sociopolitical status, we have to listen to each other with respect and a sincere and open-minded attitude. This is a life-long learning process. The Church has to put into practice and set an example to the world.
Francis has left us a more just, inclusive and committed Church. Soon after the papal election, many people pointed out that Pope Leo XIV would follow the path of Pope Francis, willing to go among the people, listening to their opinions and continue the journey of synodality, and caring about the marginalized and the disadvantaged. Serving as a missionary in Peru for more than ten years Leo XIV understands the needs of the poor and is willing to fight for the poor. By picking up the name Leo, the new pope would like to follow the footstep of Leo XIII, the father of modern Catholic social teaching, showing concern to the labor and new conditions of his time.
Like Francis, Pope Leo also faces many global challenges both inside and outside the Church which are mentioned above. It is true that the Church is quietly flourishing in many Asian countries that used to be hostile to the Christian faith. However, in some other places, there are erosion of religious freedom, religious extremism, laws which pose threats to the freedom of conscience and faith adherence. In celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC), in 2022 October the Asian Church leaders gathered in Bangkok to review and reflect on the challenges and pastoral responses. Some key points were identified in the Bangkok Document “Journeying Together as Peoples of Asia,” in the face of the many challenges. Among them, the Asian Church, including the Church in China, is called to be bridge-builders and bridges, instruments of dialogue and reconciliation.
For an appropriate response, it would require Church renewal and a synodal life of mutual listening and sharing, joint discernment in decision-making, as well as concerted response of all – bishops, priests, religious and the laity – to ensure that a collaborative Church to be built. In this way, the Church can become a sign of fraternity or solidarity, both with her members and with the people in the world. Hence the formation program of all, particularly of the laity, becomes a priority. How will Pope Leo strengthen the journey of synodality and support the effort of the Asian Church based on solidarity is a great challenge but also an indispensable task. It is hoped that Pope Leo and the Holy See would respect the local churches in Asia for their ways to carry out mission based on the notion of inculturation or interculturality, providing space and support at appropriate time, and truly be an exemplar of bridge-builder.
