At FABC Closing Mass, Cardinal Ferrão Calls Church to Find God's Presence

The Church in Asia must first recognize God's presence already at work among its peoples before seeking to proclaim the Gospel, Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão said during the closing Mass of the 12th Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) on July 26.

Preaching at Jakarta's Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, the FABC president said the Church's synodal journey begins with the humility to discover the "treasure" God has already planted in the diverse cultures and communities of Asia.

Reflecting on the Gospel passage from Matthew on the hidden treasure, the pearl of great price, and the fishing net, Cardinal Ferrão invited bishops, priests, religious, and lay delegates to view the week-long Assembly as more than a series of meetings.

"The question we have asked throughout this Plenary Assembly is: How can the Church in Asia become both a bridge and a bridge-builder?" he said.

According to the cardinal, the answer begins by recognizing that the Kingdom of God already exists and that the Church's mission is to discover and nurture God's presence rather than presume to bring Him where He is absent.

"We do not bring God to places where He is absent," he said. "Rather, we learn to recognize the God who is already present and already at work."

He said this perspective lies at the heart of synodality, calling the Church to listen attentively to the Holy Spirit, who speaks not only through Scripture and the sacraments but also through the cries of the poor, the wisdom of Indigenous peoples, the faith of families, the hopes of young people, the suffering of migrants, and the spiritual search of people of other religions.

Cardinal Ferrão described Asia as a continent blessed with rich cultures, ancient spiritual traditions, and youthful populations while also confronting poverty, forced migration, armed conflict, political polarization, discrimination, and environmental degradation.

These realities, he said, should not obscure God's continuing presence but instead invite the Church to engage society with listening, dialogue, and humility.

He cautioned against attitudes that hinder the synodal journey, warning that clericalism, excessive centralization, fear, rivalry, and the belief that one person or group possesses all the answers weaken communion and participation within the Church.

"Participation cannot flourish if decision-making remains closed, nor can communion grow if certain voices continue to be ignored," he said.

Drawing again from the Gospel, Cardinal Ferrão said the man who sold everything to acquire the hidden treasure illustrates the conversion required of the Church today.

"The treasure is so precious that it is worth giving up everything else to possess it," he said, urging the Church to abandon attitudes and structures that obstruct God's work.

As the Plenary Assembly concluded, Cardinal Ferrão encouraged participants to carry the Assembly's spirit back to their local Churches.

He said the conversations, discernment, and documents produced during the Assembly would bear fruit only if translated into daily pastoral life. Delegates, he added, are called to return home committed to building a Church that listens more deeply, remains open to the movement of the Holy Spirit, and walks closely with those who are poor, wounded, and searching for hope.

While the closing Mass concluded the week-long Assembly, Cardinal Ferrão reminded participants that it marked the beginning of a renewed mission for the Church in Asia to become an authentic bridge-builder through the synodal way of life.