By Matters India Reporter
Jakarta, July 28, 2026: Synodality must draw the Church closer to Jesus Christ and lead to concrete action rather than remain confined to documents, structures, or pastoral programs, Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão said at the closing Mass of the 12th Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) on July 26.
Speaking at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in Jakarta, the FABC president urged bishops, priests, religious, and lay faithful to ensure that a week of prayer, discernment, and dialogue produces tangible missionary renewal across Asia.
Reflecting on the Gospel parables of the pearl of great price and the fishing net, Cardinal Ferrão stressed that synodality has value only when it leads believers to an encounter with Christ.
“Synodality is not the pearl. Structures are not the pearl. Programs, documents, and pastoral strategies are not the pearl,” he said. “They have value only if they help us encounter Christ and bring Him to others.”
The cardinal said the merchant’s search for the pearl represents the Church’s ongoing search for God’s will. That search finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ, whom he described as “the face of the Father’s mercy” and the bridge reconciling God and humanity.
Drawing on the First Reading, in which King Solomon asks for wisdom, Cardinal Ferrão said the Church in Asia must seek the same spiritual attitude.
“Lord, give us hearts that are willing to listen. A synodal Church is first and foremost a listening Church,” he said.
He emphasized that such listening must extend beyond Scripture and Church structures to include those whose voices are often neglected, particularly the poor, migrants, young people, and others on society’s margins.
Cardinal Ferrão also called on Church leaders to be recognized less for administrative skills and more for their ability to listen, discern collaboratively, and foster communion.
Noting that the Mass coincided with the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly and the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, he described older people as the Church’s “living treasures,” preserving faith, wisdom, and sacrifice across generations.
At the same time, he highlighted the importance of strengthening ties between young and old.
“The Church’s future depends on bringing together the experience of the elderly with the creativity and hope of young people,” he said.
Concluding his homily, the cardinal challenged delegates to move beyond discussion and implement the Assembly’s vision in their local Churches.
“Today we leave this Assembly to move from conversation to conversion, from documents to decisions, and from vision to implementation,” he said.
Referring to delegates’ pilgrimage through Jakarta’s Tunnel of Friendship to the Istiqlal Mosque, Cardinal Ferrão said the visit symbolized the Church’s commitment to encounter, dialogue, and bridge-building in Asia’s diverse religious and cultural landscape.
He encouraged participants to return home determined to place Christ at the center of every pastoral initiative and make synodality a lived reality through listening, service, and witness.
(Photo courtesy FABC)