by Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J.
I was writing this article on May 10, the day when the official Coat of Arms (COA) of Pope Leo XIV was issued. The motto used in his COA is In Illo uno unum, which means “In the One, we are one.” This phrase was written by St. Augustine, the spiritual source of the Augustinian Order, of which Pope Leo is a member. This phrase means, “Although we Christians are many, in the one Christ, we are one.” How much do I hope and pray that this will become more of our reality day by day!
While it is the reality that we Christians hold diverse perspectives, including some matters of faith, this is understandable given the different historical, cultural and intellectual contexts in which we were brought up. However, this does not mean we have to be at odds with one another. We should be united under Christ, our Head, who desires and moves us into deeper unity through the movement of his Spirit. Sadly though, many of us would rather follow the advice and agenda of the news agents, key opinion leaders, or simply sensational messages posted on different social media platforms.
Reflecting on this Conclave, which elected Pope Leo XIV, we were hit by a tsunami of pre-Conclave news and messages claiming that they had received insiders’ tips or information from reliable sources, leading them to publish reports on imagined competitions among the so-called leading contenders for the papacy, some terrible fights between contenders, some regional cardinal electors were going to vote in block, a so-called leading candidate decided to yield to his competitor, etc. All sensational, commercial and eye-catching.
Due to the protocols of the Pre-Conclave congregations and the Conclave, almost all the cardinals had turned down requests for interviews or information about the meetings, General Congregations, or possible candidates and future direction of the Church. However, the large number of journalists who came to Rome to cover these events must have had something to offer their readers, and possibly on a daily basis. What could they offer? Creative writings based on the so-called insiders’ leaks or communications from some reliable sources.
I am not without sympathy for those journalists who have received so little from us cardinals, except for the large number of photos taken of us. What else could they offer so to justify their presence in Rome? That said, it is morally advisable for us not to assist in spreading dubious information. Otherwise, we would be morally compromised should we create and share hearsay and rumours.
I understand that a good number of individuals, including Christians, have serious concerns about their freedom of speech, which includes circulating whatever they like to share. However, like rights, freedom is not an absolute value beyond Christian ethics and morality.
In fact, all Christians are called to build up the Body of Christ with truth, goodness, beauty, love, and unity. So that Christ’s body, which is the Church on earth, can be the much-needed inspiring light in this seriously divided world, infected with egoism, rumours, falsity, character assassination, and sensational assertions with no bottom line.
Although we have put a great deal of emphasis on the need for unity, we should also be aware that “unity” is a loaded concept. What are the measures and approaches to achieve unity? We know that there is national unity determined by the government, organisational unity pushed by its management, and ideological unity promoted by the precursor of the ideology.
Nevertheless, for us Christians, unity should not be achieved through human manipulation, but through the guidance of the Holy Spirit sent for us by Christ, our Head. But if we insist on our personal preferences and attachments, we would most likely suffer from the pains of fragmentation. And the Conclave would be very much longer!
Thanks be to God that the recent Conclave has proved to be a consoling experience for many of our electing cardinals. It is a known fact that Pope Leo was elected in the fourth ballot. The outcome was the fruit of the Holy Spirit moving our hearts, and over two-thirds of the electors responded accordingly. Pope Leo possesses the qualities necessary for the continuation of Pope Francis’s pastoral and synodal approach.
The work of the Holy Spirit was further confirmed by the warm and enthusiastic gestures from Catholics and non-Catholics alike throughout the world soon after the outcome was announced. The world clearly showed that it cared who would be the Pope. Many thanks to Pope Francis for reconnecting the Church with our world! What a grace-filled journey and an affirming unity in the One!
+ Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J.
