There's a lot of Asia in the Church's future
With Benedict XVI's choice in creating 3 new Asian cardinals, the number of that continent's representatives in the Consistory becomes 20, the same amount as those from North America.
The reinforcement of Asia would seem all the more significant considering that, with these new nominations, the Pope chose Hong Kong, Seoul and Manila instead of Paris, Barcelona and Dublin, places traditionally led by a cardinal.
Clearly the Pontiff's choice is not based on figures. Catholics in Hong Kong (3.5%), South Korea (6.6%) and the Philippines (83%, the only country, together with the small East Timor, with a Catholic majority in Asia) are practically a nonentity when compared to European percentages. It is true that these particular Asian diocese are those with the highest percentages in the entire Asian continent, which otherwise is stagnating at levels between 1 and 2 percent. The point is that, proportionately, there is much more vitality among Asian Catholics compared with those in Europe: at least 50% of them go to Mass on Sunday; the rate of baptisms (which involve mainly adults) is growing 5% per year. Furthermore, as statistics show in the newly-released Annuario Pontificio (pontifical yearbook), the population of clergy and consecrated persons is growing in Asia (+ 1442 in 2004), while Europe's decreased by 1876 people in the same period. It is therefore likely that, in a not-too-distant future, there will be Asian missionary priests in Europe. For the Church, Asia is the continent of the future, not only in terms of personnel, but also as a missionary field: almost half of the Asian population (3.9 billion, two-thirds of world population) is made up of young people under the age of 25 (while Europe suffers demographic decline); it is the place where 80% of the world's non-Christians live. In all this, Benedict XVI is following the intuition that dominated John Paul II when he often repeated that "Asia is our common task for the Third Millennium." This phrase was chosen by AsiaNews as its mission statement.
In elevating the Bishop of Hong Kong and the Archbishops of Seoul and Manila to the dignity of cardinal, the Pope is also making a choice on certain specific challenges faced by the Church.
With Cardinal-designate Joseph Zen, it is the unity of the Church in China. Monsignor Zen spent years teaching in China and knows very well the seminarians, priests and bishops of the official and underground Church. In all these years, he strengthened relations between the two branches of the Church and is profoundly respected in both. Contrary to what is often believed, Monsignor Zen is appreciated by a part of the country's political leadership for his clarity. His battle for democracy too is seen by Chinese liberals as a stimulating cue towards non-violent reform of the Chinese system. The only ones to not appreciate him are the members of the Patriotic Association, who make a profitable occupation of controlling the Church. Choosing Cardinal Zen is also a signal to China: the Catholic Church is not looking for pro-forma diplomatic relations without fully-fledged religious freedom. This line was made clear by the Pope at the time of the Synod on the Eucharist when he himself nominated as Synod members 2 bishops of the official Church and two of the underground Church not recognized by Beijing. The Vatican (and Monsignor Zen) give two conditions for diplomatic relations with Beijing: the end of the Patriotic Association's supremacy in the naming of bishops and in the life of the community.
With the choice of Cardinal Nicholas Cheong of Seoul, it is attention towards North Korea, but also towards life and the family. It includes the attempt to eliminate a frontier, the final remnant of the cold war, but also to integrate into the international community a country waving the banner of nuclear threat, but that also lets its population die in the clutches of hunger and a merciless dictatorship.
But Cardinal Cheong is also an ardent defender of life and the family. Before the (false) cloning pioneer Hwang Woo-suk was exposed, Cardinal Cheong had focussed Korean society and the Church on the work of defending the dignity of the embryo, financing adult stem cell research; he also strengthened many organizations working in favour of the poor.
With the choice of the Cardinal from Manila, it is supporting evangelization across the continent. Millions of Filipinos are scattered throughout Asia and the world as skilled workers, professionals, domestics and labourers. Their faith brings them to be persecuted and imprisoned in Saudi Arabia, the Gulf, Malaysia, but also puts them in the position to witness a Christian style of life to businessmen, foremen, employers and tormentors. It is not rare that atheist and Buddhist employers convert as a result of the witness of faith of their Filipino housekeepers.
Finally, it must be stressed that Hong Kong, Seoul and Manila are places where attention to the poor is strong, being as it is the fruit of "creativity in charity" which the Pope cited in his recent encyclical and which looks for a Christian way to social justice after the failure of Marxist ideology.
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