Asian Cardinals for the Asian/Universal Church?

 

 Pope Francis has chosen and created new Cardinals (designate), surprising the world with a counter-traditional strategy. Unpredictably, these new ‘red hats’ represent a broader geographically promising land. Francis’ choice of Cardinals ensures the continuity of his reform process and the legitimate Church renewal, with emphasis on the Roman Curia, the laity, the family and the world itself. The new Asian entry into the new Curial structure mostly under the age of 80 (youngest being 48 years old) and from Religious orders, will decide on the choice of a new Pope after Francis’ heart and mind. There are 6 Jesuit Cardinals and 9 Salesians.

 

Six cardinals-designate are from Asia including the first Cardinal from the marginalized Dalit community. Of the 132 Cardinals who will enter a conclave to elect a new Pope, 83 of them (63%) are created by Francis of which almost 16% are Asian.  India has two new Cardinals – the first Telegu Dalit (“trampled upon") Cardinal Anthony Poola of Hyderabad and Archbishop Felipe Nerri from a Catholic stronghold Goa and Daman.

 

Dalit refers to people treated with disrespect and as untouchables following the caste system which is prevalent in the Church in India. Cardinal Poola is expected to represent the Dalit cause in the Church and resolve some of the issues concerned, including those of the Adivasis (Indigenous Tribals) as the late Cardinal Telesphore Toppo did.  Casteism is a serious issue of concern for the Church in India (cf. M. L. Satyan, https://mattersindia.com/2022/06/casteism-in-indian-catholic-church/, 2 June 2022). Biblically following, the Church leaders are to humbly ‘wash the feet of the Christian followers’ (cf. John 13:13-15). It is specifically stated: “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3: 27-28).  Following so, early Christians, in fact, as a united community, disposed of their possessions and shared them in common, avoiding any social and economic inequalities, following the Way. Today, the marginalized communities (SC, ST) have been discriminated and disrespected. Unfortunately, perpetrating the same, the CBCI has a separate commission for “Dalits and Minorities”!  

 

Francis has bypassed the traditional cardinal seats from major dioceses and regions, and focused on the emerging Churches as he selected Cardinals from the “peripheries”. It is noted that while the Oriental Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankara, Maronite, Chaldean, Romanian and Ethiopian Churches have cardinals, many other small Churches have been left out. This shift itself is a reminder to the leaders of the Church and the new candidates to be the voice of Asia and not simply sound the Roman dictate (Cf. chhotebhai, https://mattersindia.com/2022/06/hat-trick/, June 3, 2022).  Preferring the liberals, the Pope wants his like-minded Cardinals to pave the way for much reformation in the Church following the Vatican II’s proposals of inculturation and decentralization. The Curial reforms initiated by Francis will affect a major change in the Church governance. The convening of Vatican III may follow the mega Synod on Synodality (October 2023). Now that there are going to be 21 Asian Cardinals, this will have major effect on the appointment of the next Pope.

 

In view of the election of the future, I firmly hold that all the presidents of national episcopal conferences are to be part of the electoral body. So too representatives from religious orders and the laity must be invited to express their view about the Church and in electing a Pope. Conclave need not be restricted only to cardinals, which the Pope chooses independently and at his own discretion. This is not in line with the principle and the spirit of Vatican II. Synodality implies co-responsibility at all levels of the Church. While trying to balance the relationship between the centre and the peripheries, papal primacy and collegiality, the clergy and  the laity, the pope and the Roman Curia, the present trend of  giving the red hat to men in countries, dioceses without cardinals, or to those from ethnic/tribal communities as mere appeasement, do not address the issues that most concern the Church.

 

Again, the College of Cardinals does not offer a "faithful image of (the Church's) diversity". (Robert Mickens, https://international.la-croix.com/news/letter-from-rome/synodality-and-electing-the-bishop-of-rome/16265, 20.6.2022). And the arbitrarily selected members by the pope alone does nothing to change that.  Robert Michen says, it smacks of absolute authority and risks in favouring the Pope’s favoured one. The lay people in the spirit of Synodality, must be part of selecting their Pope. Therefore, the Eastern Church Patriarchs and the members of the Synod of Bishops' permanent council can participate in the conclave.

 

The vocations of Cardinals and Bishops are a call to Christian unity. The exclusive power of the College of Cardinals to elect a Pope, can become a procedure of great abuse. This college "does not relate directly or structurally to the episcopal conferences". Again, neither the consultative body - College of Cardinals – is taken into confidence fully. Synodality signifies the Church's communal life and decision-making process, which includes the participation of all the People of God, ordained, lay and vowed religious. Francis’ radical reforming interest in revising or updating the Church has to extend to the selection and appointment of bishops as well.

 

Coming back to Asia/India, an appointment of a Cardinal from a Dalit/minority community is not enough; he must work towards the empowerment of Dalit community in India through “concrete plans” of action made public and persevered upon.  A Cardinal, of whatsoever background, is a Shepherd who serves the universal Church with “smell of the sheep”, working for all. In this context, Cardinal Charles Bo (FABC President), Joseph Zen, Cleemis Catholicos, Oswald Gracias, George Alencherry and other important Asian Church leaders will need to be more vocal in  public against the rising persecution of Christians by the Military regime of Myanmar, the Chinese Marxist government and the RSS-backed  BJP rule in India respectively, while sharing Francis’ worldview. As the final punch, here is what an Indian Church leader must do: lead a simple life, visit the prisons, hospitals, child care homes, home for the aged, those differently abled, help the poor, express solidarity and concern; join the justice-rally,  interact with the people, and listen and learn from them. He must commit himself to serve the needy, the marginalized and the oppressed.