Source UCA

HONG KONG, SAR: The best way for the Church in Asia to address the rise of religious nationalism is to stay authentic to its mission — to serve all people in all nations, says Malaysian Cardinal Sebastian Francis of Penang.

Francis, the second cardinal from Malaysia after Cardinal Anthony Soter Fernandez, is a former chairman of the Office of Social Commission of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) and a former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei. 

The 74-year-old prelate, known for his advocacy of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, hosted the Nov. 27-30 "Great Pilgrimage of Hope," organized by the FABC Office of Evangelization in Penang.

Francis spoke with UCA News' special correspondent Rock Ronald Rozario on the sidelines of the FABC event in Penang, billed as the second Asian Mission Congress, which came 20 years after the first such gathering in Thailand.  

What do you think about your diocese hosting this FABC event?

When the offer to host it came, I accepted immediately, with little consultation or questions. I wanted to challenge the people of my diocese to help them grow, mature, and realize they are part of a larger church, the Church in Asia. 

Another reason was my trust in the parties involved, especially the FABC and its Office of Evangelization. All are people who work seriously to make the Church visible and relevant in Asia.

It would benefit us all to learn about Asian Catholic communities that live in interesting situations. Some of these communities are as old as the Catholic Church. For example, Indian Catholics trace their history back 2,000 years to the arrival of Saint Thomas the Apostle in India.

The history and culture of Catholicism vary widely by country. However, Catholics have long been present in Asia, contributing to nation-building and fostering positive interactions among cultures and religions. 

The gathering aimed to help Asian Catholics get to know each other better, learn from one another, and become storytellers of Jesus Christ. We hope this story has “a happy ending,” but we are mindful of the challenges ahead.

What is it like being a Catholic in a multireligious, multicultural country like Malaysia?

Being a Catholic in Malaysia is like Pentecost, the day the Church was born. Like on that day, we live here in a situation of unity in diversity and equality.

Any society needs to have strong foundations to move forward. For us in Malaysia, it’s not just unity, a superficial kind of unity, but it is the acceptance of diversity, and the diversity is made up of equal partners.

In Malaysia, people live in harmony despite their cultural and religious diversity. This is not superficial unity but a deep-rooted sense of unity rooted in a fundamental belief in human equality. The Church lives immersed in this unity and sense of equality.

Pope Francis, through his numerous sermons and documents, challenged us to live out Gospel values in everyday life — demonstrating mercy, charity, fraternity, and solidarity, rather than just debating them. That remains the everyday challenge of the Church in Malaysia.

How dangerous is religious nationalism to Christians in Malaysia as well as in Asia?

This phenomenon poses a significant challenge for minority faiths, including Christianity, in Asia. To understand the root of the problem, we need to look at the historical developments of each nation. In religious nationalism, some religious groups are easily labeled as pro-government or pro-nation, and religious minorities stand outside it.

For Christians, especially for Catholics, it is a challenge to stay true to their mission — serving all people and the nation, not just their own followers. The Church also stands for universal values such as freedom of conscience, of religious practice and of choice of faith. These are all recognized in the United Nations Charter of Human Rights, and the Church needs to accelerate its efforts to emphasize these values.

How do you evaluate interfaith dialogue in Asia, particularly in Malaysia?

We didn't hear much about interfaith dialogue before Vatican II. Interreligious dialogue is essential for achieving harmony and peace. It represents a step forward in embracing each other, learning from one another, and walking together as brothers and sisters. 

Interfaith dialogue, more than the talks, is about understanding each other — their doctrines, similarities, and differences. It should become more personal encounters, relationships, and engagements.

It means advancing interreligious dialogue by building and strengthening relationships. The Church has been involved in ‘synodal conversations’ with all segments of its community, and it’s time to expand this dialogue to include people of other faiths. Not everyone may be ready to take the next step, but it’s an encouraging one that we should strive for.

What do you think have been the significant achievements and setbacks of the FABC in its 55 years of existence?

The FABC played a key role in energizing churches in Asia, especially in addressing social issues and promoting dialogue with other religions and cultures. However, for various reasons, these roles have been somewhat ‘sobered down’ since the 1990s.

However, what gave it a new momentum was the 50th-anniversary celebration in Bangkok in 2023, led by Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai and Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon. The document released after this meeting, known as the Bangkok Document, revitalized the FABC and pushed us forward. 

During that jubilee celebration, the most inspiring aspect was that bishops representing nations and conferences across Asia spent 21 days living, eating, praying, and discerning together. The quality time they shared strengthened the bond between the bishops and the churches of Asia. It gave the FABC greater confidence to move forward.

How do you see the role of Catholic media in Asia and what must they do to improve?

This Penang event, the Great Pilgrimage of Hope, serves as a point of reference — it drew media from Catholic, non-Catholic, and non-Christian backgrounds. It indicates that the Catholic Church’s actions inspire enthusiasm and participation.

The Church in Asia has a sufficient media presence, particularly online. This presence may not come from the hierarchical Church, but many young people and other Catholics are acting as new digital missionaries. They are our hope, and we continue to encourage them and learn from them.

I have great hope in the media. The emergence of artificial intelligence and new algorithms should not be viewed as a threat, but rather as tools that can positively impact our lives. These new technologies could be used to build strong, genuine relationships, friendships, and companionships.

Catholics often see Catholic media as a public relations platform. Is that not a challenge to objective journalism?

In Asia, we have good, vibrant secular media doing journalism. Catholic media is more on positive reporting, because we already have too much negativity everywhere. People get tired of the negative stuff. People need hope, encouragement, and positivity.

It is imperative that Catholic media offers hope during this surge in media, which delivers an overload of negativity that people struggle to handle.

The main challenge for both religious and secular media in Asia is distinguishing truth from lies and perceiving reality. Catholic media must focus on promoting truth and love, fostering not only intellectual development but also spiritual depth. 

Catholic media should not be a source of information, but also a source of formation and transformation.

What steps must the FABC take for the Asian Church to truly be a missionary Church?

The first is companionship. The FABC is a federation of bishops. Therefore, the bishops of Asia must get to know one another, stand by one another, support one another, and strengthen their brotherhood through firm solidarity. 

The FABC must assist Catholics in Asia in witnessing their faith within their societies, including both Christians and non-Christians, and their countries.

The Church in Asia must build strong bonds and unity across this diverse continent of religions and cultures. We should recognize our diversity while speaking with one voice, because, despite our differences, we share common cultural and traditional values and are united in faith.

Jesus was an Asian, and that is an excellent source of hope and inspiration. Together, we can forge what is typically Asian, with an Asian face, and move forward toward becoming a missionary Church in Asia.