Cardinal-designate Tagle calls for quieter, listening Church

(Vatican Radio) Cardinal-designate Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila in the Philippines is one of just six Church leaders named by Pope Benedict to receive the red hat in a consistory to take place on November 24^th. Archbishop Tagle is currently here in Rome taking part in the Synod of Bishops on the new evangelisation which comes to a conclusion this weekend.

Reacting to the announcement of the consistory on Wednesday, the new Cardinal said he was grateful to the Pope for his trust and confidence in the Church of the Philippines, spread throughout the world with the many migrant workers who take their Christian faith with them.
He also spoke of his message to the Synod fathers, calling for a humbler, quieter Church that is not afraid to admit its mistakes bit is able to share more deeply in the sufferings of people today…..

Listen:

“The Church of Asia is often a minority Church, like John the Baptist crying in the wilderness…..even in the Philippines, if the Church is a majority, I realise that the sufferings of people and the difficult questions they ask are an invitation to be first in solidarity with them, not to pretend we have all the solutions….they can resonate and see the concrete face of God in a Church that can be silent with them, as confused as they are….it becomes a home for them…..

I believe the Church should contribute in the public square but we in Asia are very particular about the mode…..so you my be saying the right things but people will not listen if the manner by which you communicate reminds them of a triumphalistic, know-it-all institution…..I know that in some parts of Asia the relative silence, calmness of the Church is interpreted as timidity, but I say no – it makes the Church more credible….”