A sign of hope for the peoples of the world, says Sri Lankan theologian
Colombo (AsiaNews) - The future pope must be a "sign of hope" who, "by loving people will be loved by them," said Sri Lankan theologian Anton Meemama, who looked at the traits the new bishop of Rome should have. This afternoon, 115 cardinal electors will meet in conclave to elect the future head of the Catholic Church. They include Card Malcolm Ranjith, archbishop of Colombo and president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Sri Lanka. What follows is the interview Anton Meemama gave to AsiaNews.
In your view, what is the essence of the papacy?
The papacy cannot be properly understood by using categories from contemporary corporate management theories. An attempt to do so would be to introduce alien categories and concepts.
The essence of the papacy is authority, authority in the service of humanity, authority that to bear witness to Christ. When we look at the pope, we must be able to recognise Christ in and through him. In the daily struggle to bear witness to Christ, he truly becomes like Christ. Thus, real authority stems from Christ; in and through the papacy, the power of Christ makes itself a true authority. Therefore, the pope is much more than a manager.
The World today is in need of real authorities, real leaders who are servants of the people's God, that is, servants of God's people. The real need today is for leaders who are authoritative, not authoritarian.
Although, authority has become a bad word in the contemporary world, the concept of authority can be redefined positively and constructively.
What most people really criticise is not authority as such but authorities or leaders who have lost their credibility. People are right; such discredited authorities are a disgrace to humanity. The papacy can truly enlighten political leaders.
Does the papacy still have any weight in our highly secularised world?
The world is badly in need of an authoritative, authentic and audacious pope. His personal character, holiness, depth and integrity must surpass the office he holds. The new pope must become the heart of a heartless world, the true oasis of a dehumanised world, the true light of a perplexed world. His conduct needs to be the fruit of holiness. Only a holy pope can make a holy world. He must be holy as his heavenly Father is holy, so that the whole humanity can grow together in holiness.
What do the peoples of the Third World expect from the new pope?
The Third World is the world of Jesus Christ. We must not forget the fact that Jesus was an Asian. The Third World has no future with capitalism, communism, consumerism or relativism. They have all failed and disappointed the peoples of the Third World. They need Jesus, but Jesus properly interpreted and understood.
Jesus is the greatest friend of the Third World because He laid down His life for us. The future of the Catholic Church is in the Third World. Thus, in the ongoing process of re-evangelising Europe, Third World Catholics can play a decisive missionary role.
Is Catholicism becoming more and more a museum piece?
Without Catholicism, humanity has no future. Therefore, there is a need to retrieve the best in Catholicism and reintroduce it to the modern world. However, it should not be done from a defensive attitude or condescending mentality. Its spirit ought to be one of courage, compassion and infinite humility.
Everybody, Catholics as well as non-Catholics will benefit from a rejuvenated, renewed, recharged, revitalised and rekindled Catholicism. Everybody will love Catholicism, if Catholics begin to live like true Catholics.
When people criticise the Catholic Church, they are in reality, exercising the spirit of Catholicism. There is an urgent need to reintroduce the best in Catholicism to a spiritually lost world. It is the only hope for our contemporary world.
What else can we hope from the new pope?
A teaching pope need be a learning pope. Only a learning pope could become an effective and affective teacher. He should promote solidarity, community, communion, cooperation, collegiality, collectivity and connectivity. Hierarchy must be at the service of basic human communities. The new pope must become a sign of hope.
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13/03/2013
19/04/2005
