Cardinal Tagle to be pope’s envoy at FABC

Cardinal Tagle to be pope’s envoy at FABC
Cardinal Tagle. Photo: CNS

(UCAN): Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle of the Philipppines was named by Pope Francis to be his special envoy for the upcoming conference of the Federation of the Asian Bishops’ Conference [FABC] to be held at the Baan Phu Waan Pastoral Centre of the Archdiocese of Bangkok, from October 12 to 30.

The theme of this year’s conference, FABC 50: Journeying together as peoples of Asia… and they went a different way, is based on the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 2, verse 12, or the Magi’s visit to the Child Jesus.

Among Cardinal Tagle’s main tasks at the biggest gathering of Asian bishops will be to listen to the discussions on the role of Catholic clergy in Asia where some of the world’s poorest countries are located.

The cardinal will also preside over the closing Mass of the conference where he is expected to meet heads of state or representatives of Asian countries to mark solidarity between the Catholic Church and Asian countries.

“This year’s theme will surely tickle our imagination and creativity. It is about the last verse in the story of the Magi’s visit to the Holy Child: ‘And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route,” Father Joem Afable of Sorsogon said.

Father Afable said that having “another route” to our own place or country means God’s call may be fulfilled in various ways.

“I am sure our Asian bishops will discuss their mission in Asia. And in this mission, they are faced with several problems. Perhaps they are many ways or routes on how to conquer them. This is something our bishops need to hear from each other,” he added.

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