杏MAP导航

By Lisa Zengarini

鈥淭he College of Cardinals is called to resemble a symphony orchestra, representing the harmony and synodality of the Church.鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis made this remark as he presided on Saturday at the Consistory for the creation of 21 Cardinals in St. Peter's Square.

Diversity in one Catholic Church

In his homily addressed to the College of Cardinals and its new members (including 19 archbishops and bishops, and two priests), the 杏MAP导航 reflected on the reading from the Acts on the story of the Pentecost, in which the Apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and experienced the gift of tongues as they preached the Gospel to Jews of different nationalities in Jerusalem (Acts 2, 1-11).

The gift of being evangelized in our own language

He drew attention to the similarity between all those Jews of different nationalities and languages who heard the Apostles preaching to them and the Bishops and Cardinals of our time hailing 鈥渇rom all parts of the world, from the most diverse nations鈥�.

Seen in this perspective,  杏MAP导航 Francis noted, the story of the Pentecost  should make us 鈥渢hink back with gratitude on the gift of having been evangelized and having been drawn from various peoples who, each in their own time received the Kerygma, the proclamation of the mystery of salvation, and in welcoming it, were baptized in the Holy Spirit and became part of the Church鈥� who 鈥渟peaks all languages, is One and is Catholic.鈥�

He therefore pointed out that before being 鈥渁postles鈥�, before being priests,bishops, cardinals, pastors should remember that they are 鈥淧arthians, Medes, Elamites etc鈥� like those Jews, and should be grateful for having received the grace of the Gospel among their respective peoples of origin and in their own language, through their grandparents and parents, catechists, priests, and religious.

Evangelized evangelizers, not funtionaries

鈥淚ndeed - the 杏MAP导航 said - we are evangelizers to the extent we cherish in our hearts the wonder and gratitude of having been evangelized, even of being evangelized, because this is really a gift always present, that must be continually renewed in our memories and in faith, because, he emphasized, "We are evangelized evangelizers, non functionaries". 

Remarking that 鈥渢he Pentecost is not a thing of the past鈥�, but鈥� a creative act that God continually renews鈥�, and that 鈥渢he Church, and every baptized member, lives the today of God, through the action of the Holy Spirit鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis reminded the Cardinals receiving the biretta today that their new role renews in them their 鈥渧ocation and mission in and for the Church鈥�.

Working for an ever more symphonic and synodal Church

He clarified this mission with the image of the orchestra which embodies simultaneous diversity and unity 鈥渞epresenting the harmony and synodality of the Church鈥�.

鈥淒iversity is necessary; it is indispensable. However, each sound must contribute to the common design. This is why mutual listening is essential鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 said, adding that the conductor of the orchestra is called to help 鈥渆ach person and the whole orchestra develop the greatest creative fidelity鈥�.

Hence the call to the College of Cardinals to work for 鈥渁n ever more symphonic and synodal Church鈥� confiding in the Holy Spirit who 鈥渃reates variety and unity and 鈥渋s harmony itself.鈥�

鈥淲e entrust ourselves to his gentle and strong guidance, and to the gracious care of the Virgin Mary,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis concluded.