Cardinal Bo Highlights Five Lights, Calling on the Church in Asia to Walk the Synodal Path

The second day (28 November 2025) of the Great Pilgrimage of Hope 2025 in Penang, Malaysia, began with a vibrant and prayerful Eucharistic celebration attended by 900 participants from 32 countries. The Mass was celebrated in the Ballroom of the Light Hotel, Penang, with Charles Maung Cardinal Bo, S.D.B., Archbishop of Yangon, Myanmar, serving as the main celebrant and delivering the homily.

Deacon Paul Kang of the Diocese of Penang, City Parish, proclaimed the Gospel, setting the tone for a deeply reflective and spiritually nourishing celebration.

Five Guiding Lights

In his homily, drawing on the vision of Daniel in Daniel 7:2-14, Cardinal Bo presented five “lights” that can illuminate the journey of the faithful across the continent.

Listening with the Heart

Cardinal Bo began by highlighting the importance of listening. Quoting St. James, he asked, “Can the communities listen before they speak?” He reminded the assembly that in many Asian cultures, talking is highly valued, but the spiritual journey of synodality begins with listening, not just with the ears, but with the heart.

Using the example of Daniel in the lion’s den, who listened to God’s voice in silence, Cardinal Bo emphasized that the Church and its communities need more meaningful silence: “Not the silence of fear, but the silence of attention. Listening with the heart transforms the noise around us into an oracle of hope.”

Active listening, he explained, allows communities to become healing spaces, offering solace in a world often preoccupied with self-interest or overindulgence in worry and fear. “Imagine our parish and diocesan meetings being shorter, more purposeful, and full of meaning if we practice active listening,” he said.

Leadership as Service, Not Status

The second light focused on the nature of leadership. Cardinal Bo reminded participants that, like Daniel observing the rise and fall of kings and empires, true authority comes not from power but from humility and service.

A true leader washes feet rather than points fingers, he said, recounting a story he had heard from a bishop: “If your ring makes you feel like a king, don't throw it away. But if you feel like a king instead of a shepherd, it is time to take it off and wash someone else's feet.”

Leadership, he stressed, should elevate others and counter emerging tendencies of authoritarianism in both society and Church structures. “In Asia, where respect for authority is deeply ingrained, we must remember that real leadership is a service, not a status symbol,” Cardinal Bo said. The Church’s witness, he added, is strongest when it demonstrates humility, compassion, and servant leadership at every level.

Diversity as a Gift, Not a Threat

Cardinal Bo then turned to Asia’s rich diversity, emphasizing that differences in language, culture, and tradition are a blessing, not a challenge. Using Daniel’s vision of people from all nations and languages serving God, he explained that the Church is called to be a bridge-builder.

“Asia has many tribes, castes, and cultures, but the Church must rise above divisions and embrace the Spirit speaking through each one of us,” he said. He encouraged communities to see diversity as God’s art, a source of creativity, rather than a cause for division.

The Poor at the Center

The fourth light emphasized the centrality of the poor in the Church’s vocation. Cardinal Bo reminded the faithful that Jesus’ message always uplifts the humble and marginalized.

“Where would Jesus live if he came today? Probably not in a palace, but among the poor, migrants, and displaced,” he said. Walking with the poor, he explained, allows believers to encounter Christ in real life. Forgetting the marginalized, Cardinal Bo warned, risks forgetting the very heart of the Gospel. In contrast, placing the poor at the center strengthens faith and renews the Church’s vocation as a beacon of hope.

Youth: Alive, Joyful, and Engaged

The final light focused on the youth of Asia. Cardinal Bo described young people as creative, connected, and searching for meaning, often caught between the demands of modern life and spiritual longing.

“The Church must go to the youth, not wait for them to come,” he said, echoing Pope Francis. He urged communities to create spaces where young people can sing, question, lead, and dream. “A Church that walks with the young never grows old,” he said, emphasizing that investing in youth ensures the enduring presence of Christ’s kingdom across Asia.

The Enduring Word of Christ

Concluding his homily, Cardinal Bo reminded participants that all worldly kingdoms, trends, and technologies are transient, but the Word of Christ endures forever.

“Only love remains. Only the Word of Christ endures,” he said, urging the faithful to live these five lights in their communities. He envisioned a Church where listening precedes speaking, leadership is humble service, diversity is embraced, the poor are central, and youth are engaged, stating: “The ancient Jesus returns to Asia, and His message of love and reconciliation reaches all who have ears to hear.”

Cardinal Bo ended with a prayer: “Lord Jesus, walk again with your people in Asia. Teach us to listen, to serve, to rejoice, and to love until your Word becomes flesh in every heart and every home in Asia.”

The Mass, celebrated in the grandeur of the Light Hotel Ballroom, reflected both the diversity and unity of the Asian Church. Participants expressed gratitude for Cardinal Bo’s message, which combined spiritual depth with practical guidance, offering inspiration for the ongoing journey of the faithful across the continent.