- 22 July, 2026
Jakarta, July 21, 2026: Cardinal Oswald Gracias has called on the Church in Asia to become a force for peace, reconciliation and dialogue, saying that conflict, violence and war have become defining realities of the present age.
Preaching as the Special Envoy of Pope Leo XIV at the opening Mass of the 12th Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), Cardinal Gracias said the Church’s mission was to become “bridge builders” amid divisions and conflicts.
The Assembly is being held in Jakarta under the theme of synodal conversion and the mission of becoming “bridge builders and bridges.”
Reflecting on the Gospel of the Holy Family, Cardinal Gracias said belonging to Christ’s family was determined not by blood ties but by doing the will of God. “Our Lord declares that we all become members of His family through our willingness to do the Father’s will. The Lord has given us the key to enter into His family,” he said.
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Welcoming Church leaders from across Asia, the Cardinal thanked the Church in Indonesia for hosting the gathering and expressed confidence that the Assembly would contribute to a deeper experience of synodality and strengthen the Church’s mission of building bridges.
Recalling developments in the Church since the previous FABC Plenary Assembly in Colombo, Cardinal Gracias highlighted the teachings of Pope Francis, particularly Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti, as responses to the challenges of the times.
He also recalled the suffering caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and pointed to major ecclesial developments, including the first General Conference of the FABC, the Synod on Synodality and the Continental Assembly in Bangkok. He described the Bangkok Document as “a trailblazer and an inspiration for many pastoral initiatives, including this very Plenary Assembly.”
Turning to the global situation, Cardinal Gracias expressed concern over the growing prevalence of conflict and war. “If we look at the global situation, regrettably—and I say this with a sense of shame—we have to admit that conflict, violence, and war have become dominant features of our times,” he said.
Recalling Pope Francis’ warning that “the Third World War is being fought in piecemeal,” he said that despite advances in science and human knowledge, war had too often become the preferred response to conflicts. Against this backdrop, Cardinal Gracias said the Church must actively promote reconciliation and peace.
“Our mission, therefore, is to become bridge builders—to become bridges ourselves. We are called to connect people, bring them closer together, reconcile differences, resolve conflicts, and help build peace in the world. This is evangelisation. This is building the Kingdom of God,” he said.
He challenged religious leaders to examine their responsibility in promoting harmony, particularly in communities affected by communal and religious tensions. “Could an interreligious movement for peace be the calling of our times? Could this become one of the lasting fruits of our Assembly?” he asked.
The Cardinal also identified poor communication and misunderstanding as factors contributing to conflict and invited the FABC to consider how the Church could respond to these challenges. Referring to the recent Consistory convened by Pope Leo XIV, he said peacebuilding had once again emerged as an important priority.
He prayed that the Assembly’s initiatives would bear fruit in parishes, dioceses and countries across Asia and beyond, and echoed Pope Saint Paul VI’s appeal: “Let us proclaim an end to war.”
On synodality, Cardinal Gracias said the concept was deeply rooted in Asian traditions of family, community and shared responsibility.
“For the Church in Asia, I would say that synodality comes naturally,” he said, adding that Asian Churches had long practised many of the values now being emphasised by the universal Church. The task, he said, was “to deepen them, enrich them, and share our experiences with the wider Church.”
Describing Asia as a continent marked by diverse religions, cultures, political systems and mentalities, Cardinal Gracias said the principles of synodality should also influence society beyond the Church. “The world needs synodality, needs to learn to work together for the common good,” he said, calling for its values to be shared with other Christian communities, followers of other religions and political leaders.
He said genuine synodality, characterised by concern, care and respect for others, could contribute to combating corruption and become “the critical element for ensuring good governance.”
Insisting that “the Church cannot remain silent” and “the Church cannot be an island,” Cardinal Gracias urged the FABC to become “an evangelising influencer” in Asia.
Conveying Pope Leo XIV’s message to the Assembly, he concluded with an appeal to Church leaders: “Don’t be afraid to dirty your hands, building the walls of Jerusalem like Nehemiah rather than the tower of Babylon.” He expressed hope that the Plenary Assembly would mark “another new beginning” for the Church in Asia, committed to promoting unity, peace and reconciliation and to walking together in a spirit of synodality.
By Catholic Connect Reporter
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