Cardinal Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo, Secretary General of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, reflects on the fruits of the FABC Plenary Assembly, highlighting faith, the protection of human dignity, and an urgent pastoral response to migration as shared priorities for the Church across Asia.
“Through these three days, we had the opportunity to deepen our understanding of our own reality in Asia and our understanding that we exist across really diverse realities but are united in one faith, one Body of Christ.”
Cardinal Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi, SVD, Archbishop of Tokyo and Secretary General of the FABC, expressed this as he reflected on the FABC Plenary Assembly which opened on Monday in Jakarta, Indonesia, and concludes Sunday, in an interview with Vatican News. More than 120 Cardinals and Bishops from across Asia have gathered to pray and reflect on the Church’s mission across the continent.
Cardinal Kikuchi presided over the Eucharistic Celebration on the Assembly’s opening day. The days have been full of mutual sharing, and, on Thursday, delegates participating in the Assembly presented the results of their table discussions.
As the plenary continues, Vatican News spoke with the Archbishop of Tokyo about the Assembly, but also about the Church in Japan, and Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica humanitas.
As the answer to the question: Your Eminence, what do you see as the main fruits of the FABC Plenary Assembly so far? What have been the principal themes and priorities of your discussions? Cardinal Kikuchi said, The Church in Asia exists in the diverse realities of culture, language, politics and economy, but one thing is common among most of us: we are an absolute minority in society, except in the Philippines. So far, we have only had three days, from Tuesday to Thursday, of reflection and sharing our experiences. We had members share three-minute video presentations on the first day, a day of prayer and Conversation in the Spirit led by Cardinal Tagle on Wednesday, and on Thursday, a day of learning about the changing socio-political landscape of Asia and sharing the reality of our local Churches.
Through these three days, we had the opportunity to deepen our understanding of our own reality in Asia and to deepen our awareness that we live in really diverse realities but are united in one faith, one Body of Christ. We shared the challenges and opportunities for mission based on local realities and found some common elements, especially the importance of dialogue. We are searching for the best way to be bridges ourselves, but also bridge-builders among people and together with people through dialogue—with diverse cultures, with people, especially the poor, amid the diverse reality of numerous religions and in responding to the ecological crisis.
Asia is an extraordinarily diverse continent. What have you learned from your brother Bishops during this assembly?
Drastic waves of migration in Asia call for immediate pastoral attention in many countries. Also, the protection of human dignity is a priority in many countries. Though each country has its own situation and problems, we can seek ways of cooperation among the Church communities in Asia. What the respective Church communities in Asia need is mutual understanding of each other’s realities and mutual cooperation. All my brother Bishops, despite their diverse realities, are asking for recognition of their circumstances and for support, especially spiritual support, from one another. (NB. There were also questions and answers which are not presented here).
