Card. Gracias: The Church in Asia welcomes three new cardinals with gratitude and joy
The president of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences comments on yesterday’s announcement. In his message he underlines the profound gratitude of Pope Francis for the work that the cardinal-designates carry out in their countries. "Our hearts are full of joy for the choice of Msgr. Zenari, who works for the suffering Syrian people".
Mumbai (AsiaNews) - The "Church in Asia welcomes with gratitude and joy the three new cardinals. They reflect the deep love that our Holy Father for Asia and the Asian people, the all-encompassing vision of dialogue with cultures, religions and the poor in Asia and the greatest depth, hope and courage that Asia is " . This was stated by Card. Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Mumbai and president of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC).
The cardinal sent AsiaNews a message, expressing deep satisfaction at the announcement of Pope Francis, who yesterday surprisingly appointed 17 new cardinals. For Asian side these include Cardinal-designate Patrick D'Rozario (Archbishop of Dhaka in Bangladesh), Cardinal-designate Anthony Soter Fernandez, (Emeritus Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia) and Cardinal-designate Mario Zenari (Apostolic Nuncio in Syria).
Card. Gracias, who is also the Asian representative of the C9 - the Board of the nine cardinals that assists the Pope for the reform of the Roman Curia and the government of the Church - says that the "choices reflects the mind and heart of the Holy Father, his loving concern for these countries, his desire to show his gratitude, encourage and strengthen the churches and nations" We publish his message below.
"The Church in Asia welcomes with gratitude and joy" the three new Cardinals
These choices by the Holy Father reflect the mind and heart of the Holy Father, his caring concern for the countries, and his desire to show his appreciation and encourage and strengthen the Churches and the Nations.
These are all small suffering Churches with special needs and by these choices, The Holy Father has shown his solidarity and appreciation of the sacrifices for both the person and the nation, and Above all reflects the Loving Compassionate and Tenderness of the Holy Father for the peripheries,
Both Abp Patrick of bangladesh and Abp Storers are close personal friends, Abp Patrick Rosario is Chairperson of the Youth and has served the Church in Bangladesh tireless and courageously.....this is a sign of the Holy Father's appreciation for the nation and person of Abp Patrick
Abp Stoer is involved in Seminary in the Church in Malayasia, again a small church where the Holy Father shows his appreciation for both the nation and the person, and a source of encouragements
Our hearts are overflowing with gratitude for the choice of Mgr Mario Zenari, the nuncio in Syria; the tremendous suffering, the personal agony and the deep anguish of the small suffering church, nation and people. The Holy Father has appreciated the sacrifice of the church and Mgr Mario Zenari, and is in solidarity with the sufferings people and the nation and the church."
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