July 25, 2013: Cardinal Oswald Gracias has lauded Pope Francis’ encyclical “Lumen
Fidei” as notable for exploring the “valuable richness” of faith and for being an
“answer to the present challenges to faith.”
“Lumen Fidei is a challenge to
us not to take our faith for granted, but to understand our faith, to live it ethically,
and proclaim it confidently,” the cardinal told the Catholic New Agency. Cardinal
Gracias appreciated Pope Francis' “down to earth, direct approach,” as shown in his
statement that the encyclical was “written by four hands.”
The encyclical has
the “theological depth” and insights of Benedict XVI as well as the “direct approach”
of Pope Francis, making concrete examples to form direct appeals to people of God.
“I think the combination has been excellent (in) the depth, clarity and appeal” of
the document.
While the encyclical is addressed to all the faithful, Cardinal
Gracias examined it in the light of his Asian context, linking it to Blessed John
Paul II's 1999 apostolic exhortation “Ecclesia in Asia,” which promoted a “great harvest
of faith” on that continent. “Lumen Fidei” is addressed to the “universal” Church,
Cardinal Gracias said, and each diocese is called to pastorally “apply” the teaching
of the Bishop of Rome to its “particular” situation.
The cardinal indicated
that the years between Blessed John Paul II's apostolic exhortation to Asian Catholics
and the present Holy Father's encyclical letter have been the occasion of a “re-awakening,”
a call to rediscover the richness of the faith in Asian cultures. “I think everything
links up beautifully with 'Ecclesia in Asia,' which speaks of the richness of faith
in the Asian context and the challenges to us to make an Asian response,” he said.
Cardinal
Gracias said that Benedict XVI's call for a “deepening” of our faith has been served
by his successor's encyclical, which has helped in really “understanding” the “richness”
of the light of faith in the midst of darkness, and in showing how the values of the
Gospel can be the “answers to our problems.” There is a “cry against corruption,”
a cry for “good governance” and an “attitude of servant leadership” all over the world,
Cardinal Gracias reflected. “This is evangelization,” he said, “understanding the
faith, living the faith, and proclaiming the faith.”