杏MAP导航 to Asian Bishops: What is the Holy Spirit saying to you?

杏MAP导航

杏MAP导航 Francis encourages members of the Federation of Asian Bishops gathered in Thailand this month to discern what the Holy Spirit is saying to them, while maintaining fraternity and embracing the poor, young people, and dialogue.

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

杏MAP导航 Francis is urging the Catholic bishops of Asia to authentically embrace their mission as a Church for the poor and young people, always in dialogue.

The Holy Father offered this encouragement in a sent on Wednesday to members of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC), gathered in Bangkok, Thailand, on 12-30 October.

Listen to our report:

Now a 'true community'

In his message, the 杏MAP导航 recalled the origins of the Church in Asia, and his predecessor 杏MAP导航 St. Paul VI's visit to Asia in 1970, where - 杏MAP导航 Francis suggested - he found a continent of mainly young people, home to many cultures and religions.

The Bishops at the time, 杏MAP导航 Francis said, "noted that the masses were awakening from fatalism to a life worthy of man; even the young people were awakening; they were idealistic, aware, worried, impatient and restless; culturally diverse societies were awakening to become a true community of peoples."

鈥淭his meant that the Church in Asia was called to be more authentically the Church of the poor, the Church of the young, and a Church in dialogue with Asian brothers and sisters of other confessions.鈥�

Fraternity, exchanging ideas

At the same time, 杏MAP导航 Francis looked to the future, urging Asia's Bishops to look to the future, and try to discern what the Holy Spirit is asking them today.

"You will come together now," he said in his video message, "and I wish in some way to accompany you in the work of fraternity and exchange of ideas that you will carry out."

What Holy Spirit is saying to Church in Asia

鈥淚t is important that the Regional Conferences meet with a certain assiduity, in doing so the Church is forming; it is strengthening on the way, and the fundamental question is: what is the Spirit saying to the Churches in Asia?鈥�

And this, the 杏MAP导航 continued, "is what you have to answer."

Importance of laity

The 杏MAP导航 also dedicated some special words to laypeople.

鈥淢ay the laity assume their baptism, their function as lay people, and respect the singularity of each one, because the universal Church is not the uniform Church; no, it is universal, respecting the particularity of each Church.鈥�