Jakarta (AsiaNews) – Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation, spoke to the Asian bishops gathered in Jakarta for the 12th Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC), underway until 26 July on the theme of “Synodal Conversion and Bridge-Building Mission in Asia”.
“We say synodality means walking together," he said in his address. "But have we studied well the phenomenon of walking?” The Filipino cardinal, a theologian and former Archbishop of Manila, gave the meditation that opened today's retreat.
He invited everyone to rediscover the deeper meaning of synodality, exploring the image of walking together that the Greek root of this word evokes. He also noted that the journey is a process that requires balance, coordination, strength, trust, and the ability to support one another.
Applying this image to the life of the Church, he asked what spiritual muscle strength, balance, and trust are needed to build a true culture of listening, participation, and community discernment.
The pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation also cautioned against evaluating the success of the synodal journey based on criteria of institutional efficiency or progress, insisting instead on the need for compassionate accompaniment capable of respecting the timing and fragility of individuals.
To explain this concept, he cited children's first steps as an example, sharing a personal memory of his parents, both 96: his father, lucid but unable to walk, and his mother, still able to move but with assistance.
"How do you walk with someone who cannot walk?" he asked. "You stay,” he answered. “You touch the hand. You whisper to his ears, and he is assured he is not alone."
The cardinal warned against new forms of individualism, also fuelled by the constant use of smartphones, calling on the Church to leave no one behind.
In the second part of his reflection, dedicated to the theme of Being Bridges and Bridge Builders in Asia, Tagle pointed to Christ as the true bridge in which God and humanity are held together.
The Incarnation, he added, was not a gesture of condescension, but an act of love towards humanity. For this reason, he urged the bishops to anchor all pastoral discernment in the person of Christ and in prayer inspired by listening to the Word of God, before undertaking any reform or structural initiative.
Today's assembly session was also marked by the election of the Presiding Officers and the members of the Committee for the Final Document and the Committee for the Final Message.
For the first time in the history of the FABC, the bishops present cast their votes through an online platform.
The Committee charged with drafting the Final Document, which will gather all the pastoral recommendations, includes Cardinal Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, Archbishop of Tokyo and Secretary General of the FABC; Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, Archbishop of Goa and Daman and President of the FABC; Cardinal Pablo Virgilio S. David, Bishop of Kalookan and Vice President of the FABC; and Bishop Anthony James Corcoran, Apostolic Administrator of Kyrgyzstan.
The Committee for the Final Message, charged with drafting the assembly's concluding message for the Churches of Asia, includes Cardinal Stephen Chow Sau-yan, Bishop of Hong Kong; Cardinal Anthony Poola, Archbishop of Hyderabad, India; Archbishop Julian Leow Beng Kim of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Archbishop Gilbert A. Garcera of Lipa, Philippines.
The delegates also elected Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, Philippines, Archbishop Bejoy N. D'Cruz, OMI, of Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Bishop Antonius Subianto Bunjamin, OSC, Bishop of Bandung, Indonesia, as Presiding Officers who will part of the Steering Committee that will guide the assembly's daily sessions
FABC President Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão spoke again yesterday about the Assembly's Final Document as a practical handbook on synodality in Asia, explaining that it will serve as a guide to concretely help Asian Churches live the synodal style and strengthen their role as promoters of peace, dialogue, and fraternity in increasingly pluralistic societies.
"This year's Plenary Assembly can make an important contribution to the future mission and growth of the Church in Asia," he said.
The chosen theme, Call to Synodal Conversion and the Mission of Being Bridges and Bridge Builders in Asia, is particularly timely in a continent marked by cultural change, migration, economic inequality, environmental crises, and growing religious diversity.
Ferrão explained that all the work will be guided by listening, dialogue, and communal discernment in the Holy Spirit.
The main objectives include deepening synodal practice in local Churches, renewing the evangelising mission, and increasing commitment to interreligious dialogue, justice, peace, and the defence of human dignity.
“Through the outcomes of the assembly, FABC hopes the Church in Asia will become an even stronger sign of hope and a credible partner in dialogue as it responds to the region's rapidly evolving challenges,” he said on the sidelines of the meeting.
