In Europe, we have always had the impression that Catholicism is in its death throes. But all it takes is a week at the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples to understand that, on the contrary, the Church has an extraordinary vitality. And that we are living 'a new springtime of Christianity', as John Paul II loved to say. In 1900, there were two million Catholics in Africa. Today, there are 185 million. In Asia, Catholicism, provoked and stimulated by indigenous traditions of mysticism, embodies modernity. But I would add that the beauty of the Church does not reside in the number of faithful, but in their holiness. [As secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples for eight years] I was able to follow the work of more than one thousand dioceses and countless missionaries who have given of themselves generously to others in the world's most arid and remote places. And yet, with ridiculously little means, they have been able to bring to people all the goodness of God. Often, missionary institutions are the only ones who pay attention to the poor and the sick whom everyone disregards. When irresponsible governments, cruel armies, and lobbies thirsting for profit have sowed terror and despair, all that's left are the open hands of God who, through the courage of these messengers of his Gospel, comes to comfort those who are most in need. Among these missionaries, there are many saints. Most will remain unknown, and yet their holiness is very impressive... In this great dicastery, I feel able to understand the fundamental intuitions of John Paul II. In the West, where everything good seems to be dying and Christianity seems to be ineluctably evaporating, there are nonetheless many extraordinary hidden flowers. Because the true springtime of the Church are her saints. And how can we forget John Paul II, Mother Teresa and all the saint of our time?... I had the opportunity of several work sessions with Pope Benedict XVI, especially for the nomination of bishops. His humility, his capacity to listen, his intelligence have always struck me... In my life, God has done everything. For my part, I have only wanted to pray. I am sure that the red vestments of my cardinalate are truly the reflection of the blood of suffering of all the missionaries who reached every corner of Africa, including my village, to evangelize us... Returning from a trip to India for Cor Unum, I had an audience with Benedict XVI, who told me during that meeting words that I will never forget: "Excellency, I named you the president of Cor Unum because I know that among everyone, you have the experience of suffering and of the face of poverty. So you would be the best to express with sensitivity the compassion and nearness of the Church to the poorest and neediest".
These excerpts have inspired these thoughts: o One cannot judge the 'health' of Catholicism simply by focusing on Europe. o The debates at the 'family synod' are in fact Europist and European. They do not reflect the concerns of the rest of the world. Africa and Asia could provide surprises. o In many countries, the Catholic church is the only institution capable of helping needy populations materially, morally and spiritually. The Church of the poor and for the poor existed long before March 13, 2013. o Benedict XVI was always very close to the poor and the needy, but with great discretion. [His great and unique virtue in a time of 'Look at me! I'm different!'] o Among contemporary saints, we can now cite the Christians driven from their homelands in the Middle East. By abjuring their faith, they could have kept their homes, their comfort, their jobs, the schools their kids attended... They chose not to, bearing witness to the extraordinary vitality of Christianity. o Cardinal Sarah is gifted with a broadness of perspective.