by card. Filipe Neri Ferrão *

The Archbishop of Goa and President of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences reflects with AsiaNews on Pope Prevost’s inaugural homily: “Love for all, unity in diversity, closeness to the poor and to cultures – this must be our way of being Church. We await him in our beloved India. And we will invite him to the FABC Assembly scheduled for 2026 in Malaysia.”

Mumbai (AsiaNews) – The day after the solemn inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão – Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Patriarch of the East Indies, President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), and President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) – shared his thoughts on the new pontiff and the message conveyed in his homily with AsiaNews. The cardinal, who participated in the conclave, reflected on the directions outlined by Pope Prevost in his early addresses and the significance of his election for the Church in India and throughout Asia.

Pope Leo XIV is a man of deep faith, rooted in Christ and grounded in prayer,with a clear theological vision and a genuine commitment to implementing the teachings of the Second Vatican Council. He is simple, humble and caring, with an exceptional ability to listen and to reach out, particularly to those on the peripheries.

Pope Leo XIV has a very rich and wide experience of the ecclesial life in all the continents and is aware of the multi-faceted challenges confronting the Church in different contexts. 

I had the opportunity to observe him closely in the last two Synodal Assemblies in Rome (October 2023 and October 2024), in which both of us had taken part, and Card. Prevost - His occasional interventions during the Synod had impressed me as clear indicators of his commitment to the communional and missionary vision of the Church, as embodied in the Second Vatican Council.

From the addresses to the Cardinals after the elections,  Pope Leo XIV it is quite clear that our new Pontiff will preserve and promote the rich ecclesial legacy of the recent Popes, including our Pope Francis of revered memory, thereby nurturing a Church that fosters communion, promotes participation and is focussed on its evangelizing mission at all levels, with special attention to those who live on the peripheries.

He will surely exercise a truly synodal leadership, a leadership that listens, discerns and embraces inclusivity, a leadership that is humble, compassionate and witnessing to the values of the Gospel.

I have no doubt that Pope Leo XIV will speak with moral authority on several global issues, with which humanity is grappling in our times, such as the dignity of the human person, religious freedom, poverty and injustice, war and peace, dialogue and reconciliation, migration, ecology and the challenges of the Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The Holy Father's homily Sunday morning, quoting St Augustine restless until we rest in Thee.. encouraged us to be centered on Christ, to be Witnesses of Christ Love, which is unconditional and infinite. .In Asia this is our being...witnessing with people of all faiths and walks of life, with religions, cultures, and the poor

His Holiness also made a strong call for Unity in the Church, unity in spite of Diversity. ... This is a call to the churches in Asia, so many challenges we face, but this call for unity ... unity within the Church and… on integral human development

To be sensitive to the challenges faced by humanity, to show concern for our brothers and sisters on the margins and peripheries... To be a Missionary Church. 

These are issues very close to the Mission of the Church in Asia... and a guiding light for the Church in Asia to follow. 

In his address to the Cardinal's after his election, Pope Leo spoke of Peace and He also emphasized the importance of continuing the path set by Pope Francis, specifically of "Evangelii Gaudium as concrete guidance

 for the Church. 

We witness the Unconditional and Infinite Love of Jesus in Asia and India through our Educational Apostolate, Health Care, Social outreach and Welfare Apostolate to all peoples without discrimination of caste and creed. 

 Pope Leo spoke of the importance of Dialogue Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue- in Asia and India, we carry out the Triple Dialogue - dialogue with poor, with religions and with cultures.

Dedicated missionaries, brought the light of the Gospel and nurtured our faith, among them our beloved St. Francis Xavier. Many sons and daughters of the Church in Goa went as missionaries in the service of the people with great love and dedication, including St. Joseph Vaz, the Patron of our Archdiocese.

The great challenge before the Church in Goa is to grow in our appreciation of this precious treasure of faith and to strive to become a truly synodal community of missionary disciples at all levels and in the different spheres of our life Pope Leo Courageous Catholics  to exercise their Christan responsibility of becoming the transforming leaven of the Gospel in their new environment and offering a committed witness to their faith in every sphere of life – social, political, economic and cultural.

The Bishops of India would like Pope Leo XIV to visit our beloved country . As far as the FABC is concerned,  our next FABC Plenary Assembly in Malaysia in 2026. In due course of time, we will invite the Pope for our Plenary Assembly.