Pope urges Asian Church to
promote unity and integrity of faith
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| Catholics in prayer in Pakistan. |
Pope Francis has sent a message to the Presidents of
Doctrinal Commissions of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, who are meeting in
Thailand.
By Linda Bordoni
Pope Francis has urged pastors of the Asian
Church to foster cooperation and fraternal exchange and to reaffirm
their common responsibility in promoting the unity and integrity of the
Catholic faith in their vastly diverse continent.
His words of encouragement came in a message to the
participants in a Meeting of
the Presidents of Doctrinal Commissions of the Episcopal Conferences of Asia,
taking place from 15 to 18 January in Bangkok, Thailand.
Asia: vast and diverse continent
The Pope greeted the participants and noted the challenges
they face in Asia that, he said, is such a vast continent that is “marked by
religious, linguistic and cultural diversity, in order to reaffirm our common
responsibility for the unity and integrity of the Catholic faith”.
He also encouraged them “to explore new means and methods of
bearing witness to the Gospel amid the challenges of our contemporary world”.
In his message, the Pope reflected on how, in his Apostolic
Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, he invited the whole Church ‘to go forth.’
Need to foster cooperation
“I am pleased,” he said, “that the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith is actively supporting the important work of the
Episcopal Conferences and especially of their Doctrinal Commissions, as they
assist and foster the effective and fraternal cooperation among the Pastors of
the Church in Asia ”.
The Pope concluded by assuring them of his prayers for the
meeting, that it may offer an opportunity to address the concerns of the Gospel
that are specific and relevant to Asia.
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