by Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J.
If you have ever seen the Milky Way in the night sky with your own eyes, you will never forget the beauty of it. I can recall being stunned by the jaw dropping scene of the magnificent Milky Way while camping out on the Cheung Sha beach on Lantau Island when I was a teenager.
What we know is that the Milky Way, which is 100,000 light years in diameter, is formed by approximately 200 to 300 billion stars. Our Solar System dwells within this Milky Way galaxy, about 25,000 light years away from its centre. We think we are looking at a distant galaxy. In fact, we are inside the galaxy, a planet of the galaxy.
This was an enlightening experience for me. How I thought I was far, far away from the Milky Way, only to find out I was in it. And how I thought I was on my own, while I was being accompanied by countless stars and life forms in the galaxy!
Sometimes we are too focused on ourselves, becoming too self-centred. We fail to acknowledge that our existence is in relationship with many other existents, that we mutually influence one another, and that we share a common destiny when we look further and wider from ourselves. However, self-centeredness prevents us from seeing the bigger picture, which is required for understanding of an inclusive reality. In turn, this understanding is necessary for us to build a better living and peaceful interdependence among the many that make up the One.
On April 21, at 7:35 a.m. in Rome, our beloved Holy Father Francis returned to our Lord for his eternal reward. We were all shocked and deeply saddened by the news, as we were expecting his gradual recovery. Francis was perceived as a liberal and reforming pope. Personally speaking, I would not use “liberal” to describe him. He was a universal pastor with an open mind and a compassionate heart – the Pope of Mercy and a Shepherd with the smell of his sheep to the last day of his papacy. And his heartfelt love for China is most endearing to us.
Francis was loyal to the teachings of the Church and the spirit of the Second Vatican Council. He was a compassionate pastor who voiced his support for the poor and the marginalised, the helpless civilians and refugees caught in the middle of cruel wars and persecutions, and for those who have been marginalised within our Church, such as divorced Catholics, and sexual minorities. And he was keen on upholding the dignity and role of women in the Church.
His famous encyclicals on the environment and ecology are actually social encyclicals because those who will suffer the most from a damaged ecology are the poor and the weak. I remember him telling me this when I asked him about the nature of Laudato Si’.
Francis also worked tirelessly for the advancement of ecumenism and interreligious dialogue. He was well-respected by leaders of world Christian churches as well as leaders of major world religions because of his humility and respect for them.
His final gifts to our Church were the Synod on Synodality and the last encyclical, Dilexit Nos. The latter addresses the love of the Sacred Heart for our increasingly heartless world. Synodality should be understood and implemented in that spirit of love. These so-called reforms are actually his efforts to help the Church live out her authenticity, fulfilling what she is meant to be in carrying out God’s mission in our world today.
Looking at what Pope Francis has laboured throughout his papacy, he has been strong in promoting unity in plurality, emphasising the importance of the One while respecting the Many. Synodality is also about helping our Church to become better connected to the world. We should have a meaningful and effective presence in the world, though not belonging to it. Yet, the Church is called to embrace the many of the world in our mission as the People of God. I cannot be detached from the Milky Way, as I am very much within it.
Pope Francis, pray for us!
+ Stephen Chow, S.J.
