Pakistani bishop, Indian Archbishop address Synod of Bishops

October 15, 2012 - The Synod of Bishops currently taking place in the Vatican, Oct 7-28, held its 11^th general congregation on Monday, with 27 participants addressing the floor, including a Pakistani and an Indian. Capuchin Bishop Sebastian Francis Shaw, Apostolic Administrator of Lahore, Pakistan, noted the seriousness with which the Catholic Church in the country has taken the New Evangelization, translating the Catechism of the Catholic Church into Urdu, so people may have access to the basics of their faith. He recalled that in the overwhelmingly Muslim nation, where there is the blasphemy law, Christians form only about 2%. Bishop Shaw made it an occasion to thank Pope Benedict XVI, present there, and many other Church and state leaders who, he said, “intervened to save the life of Asia Bibi,” a Christian woman falsely charged with blasphemy, and who continues to be in prison. Bishop Shaw said what is essential for the New Evangelization is a healthy sense of human relationships as it was with Jesus. In spite of the religious fundamentalist challenges to the Catholic faith in Pakistan, the Church is dialogue with Islamic scholars, civil society and other religious minorities, inviting them to try and build up a harmonious society by living common religious values such as justice, peace, respect for environment, good governance with reciprocal love and concern. Before concluding, Bishop Shaw urged the synod assembly to keep Pakistani Christians in their prayers so that “the little flock” of Christ in Pakistan may continue to be the beacon of faith for the transformation of people, culture and society, energized by the New Evangelization.
Archbishop Filipe Neri António Sebastião do Rosário Ferrão of Goa and Daman, India, spoke about the importance of the parish in the process of new evangelization. In this regard he particularly held out the “Small Christian Communities” SCC, where the faithful of a neighbourhood reflect collectively on the Word of God, pray together and act in solidarity for the integral development and authentic liberation of the human person. He said that as the faithful experience conversion, grow in the personal encounter of Jesus and recognize him in one another, a new type of leadership is needed, especially from priests, who shunning all forms of dominating and arrogant attitudes, follow Jesus in humble, self-emptying, animating and encouraging leadership. Archbishop Felipe Neri urged pastors to form the laity as evangelizers inspired by the truth of Christ.