Cardinal Ferrão: Asia's Challenges Strengthen the Church's Mission of Dialogue

The challenges faced by Christian communities in Asia should deepen, not diminish, the Church's commitment to dialogue and reconciliation, Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão said at the opening press conference of the 12th Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) on July 20.

Responding to a question about the difficulties experienced by Christians living as minorities in several Asian countries, Cardinal Ferrão said the Church has always carried out its mission amid challenging circumstances.

"Throughout her history, the Church has always faced challenging situations. It is true that in many parts of Asia, the Church continues to live in difficult circumstances," said Cardinal Ferrão, Archbishop of Goa and Daman and President of the FABC.

Rather than responding with fear or isolation, he said, the Church must remain committed to building relationships and fostering dialogue.

"It is precisely for this reason that the Church has the responsibility to build relationships, foster dialogue, and promote reconciliation," he said.

Cardinal Ferrão said this mission is especially important in Asia, a continent characterized by extraordinary religious, cultural, linguistic, and ethnic diversity. In such a context, he said, the Church is called to create spaces for encounter with people of other faiths and cultures, as well as with those who may view the Church with suspicion.

"We reaffirm our commitment to being an outgoing Church. We must build bridges of understanding with everyone, including those who do not share our faith and even those who may look upon us with suspicion," he said.

His remarks reflected the central theme of the 12th FABC Plenary Assembly, "The Call to Synodal Conversion and the Mission to Be Bridges and Bridge-Builders in Asia." The weeklong gathering, held in Jakarta from July 20 to 26, has brought together more than 120 cardinals and bishops representing the FABC's 22 member bishops' conferences and ecclesiastical jurisdictions.

The question-and-answer session focused on how the Church can respond pastorally to the realities faced by Christian minority communities across Asia. Cardinal Ferrão said those realities should not discourage the Church but instead reaffirm its vocation to witness to the Gospel through dialogue, mutual understanding, and reconciliation.

Throughout the assembly, participants will engage in prayer, Conversations in the Spirit, regional meetings, and communal discernment as they seek practical ways to strengthen synodality and the Church's mission across the continent.

Cardinal Ferrão said the Church's credibility in Asia will depend not on withdrawing from difficult situations but on remaining present among people, promoting understanding, and serving as a bridge of hope in societies marked by diversity and division.