The "Church in Asia welcomes with gratitude and joy the three new cardinals. They
reflect the deep love that our Holy Father for Asia and the Asian
people, the all-encompassing vision of dialogue with cultures, religions
and the poor in Asia and the greatest depth, hope and courage that Asia
is."
This was stated by Card. Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Mumbai
and president of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC).
The cardinal sent AsiaNews a message, expressing deep
satisfaction at the announcement of Pope Francis, who yesterday
surprisingly appointed 17 new cardinals. For Asian side these include
Cardinal-designate Patrick D'Rozario (Archbishop of Dhaka in
Bangladesh), Cardinal-designate Anthony Soter Fernandez, (Emeritus
Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia) and Cardinal-designate Mario
Zenari (Apostolic Nuncio in Syria).
Card. Gracias, who is also the Asian representative of the C9 - the
Board of the nine cardinals that assists the Pope for the reform of the
Roman Curia and the government of the Church - says that the "choices
reflects the mind and heart of the Holy Father, his loving concern for
these countries, his desire to show his gratitude, encourage and
strengthen the churches and nations"
"The Church in Asia welcomes with gratitude and joy" the three new Cardinals
These choices by the Holy Father reflect the mind and heart of the
Holy Father, his caring concern for the countries, and his desire to
show his appreciation and encourage and strengthen the Churches and the
Nations.
These are all small suffering Churches with special needs and by
these choices, The Holy Father has shown his solidarity and appreciation
of the sacrifices for both the person and the nation, and Above all
reflects the Loving Compassionate and Tenderness of the Holy Father for
the peripheries.
Both Abp Patrick of bangladesh and Abp Storers are close personal
friends, Abp Patrick Rosario is Chairperson of the Youth and has served
the Church in Bangladesh tireless and courageously.....this is a sign of
the Holy Father's appreciation for the nation and person of Abp Patrick.
Abp Stoer is involved in Seminary in the Church in Malayasia, again a
small church where the Holy Father shows his appreciation for both the
nation and the person, and a source of encouragements.
Our hearts are overflowing with gratitude for the choice of Mgr Mario
Zenari, the nuncio in Syria; the tremendous suffering, the personal
agony and the deep anguish of the small suffering church, nation and
people.
The Holy Father has appreciated the sacrifice of the church and
Mgr Mario Zenari, and is in solidarity with the sufferings people and
the nation and the church."