Cardinal Dias’ Vatican Appointment Signals Renewed Focus on Asia
The 70-year-old archbishop of
The congregation has great
influence at both the local and universal Church level, so much so that its
prefect has been called the “Red Pope.” It is responsible for the
administration and financing of all the “mission churches” that number a third
of all dioceses around the world, concentrated in Asia and
Speaking to UCA News May 22,
Cardinal Telesphore Toppo
of
Born in
Cardinal Dias has also served in
many other nunciatures, including
As a Church leader, Cardinal Dias
is not afraid to stand up for the faith. Shortly after his appointment last
month, he criticized Hindu nationalist political groups who voiced their
opposition to conversions to the Catholic faith in
Although he rarely gives interviews, Cardinal Dias has often spoken at Vatican-sponsored conferences. His speeches frequently stress the need for strong, convicted witnesses to the faith, and for priests to be models and guides of holiness for others. He was also an ardent supporter of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s 2000 document Dominus Iesus, which affirmed that Jesus Christ is the only path to redemption, and that the followers of other religions are, objectively speaking, in a gravely deficient situation in comparison to those who, in the Catholic Church, have the fullness of the means to salvation.
The document sparked widespread criticism from representatives of other religions. Father Edward Cassidy and then- Bishop Walter Kasper felt that the language lacked ecumenical sensitivity. Cardinal Dias, however, said it was a “reaffirmation of what we believe” and that “we have a right to say who we are, and others can accept it or not.”
He is a firm promoter of the sacraments of reconciliation and the anointing of the sick as a cure for illness, especially depression.
The cardinal’s appointment is seen as a sign that Benedict is increasing the internationalization of the Curia. The cardinal is the second Asian to be given a key position recently: Last December, Sri Lankan Archbishop Albert Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don was appointed secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship.
Pope Benedict was also praised for
appointing Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe,
Cardinal Dias’ predecessor at the Congregation for Evangelization of Peoples,
the new archbishop of
Cardinal Giordano was widely
respected for his many diocesan initiatives, but his achievements were
overshadowed by allegations of financial mismanagement. With the appointment of
Cardinal Sepe, who is well known for his
organizational skills and played a key role in administering the Great Jubilee
Year in 2000, the Vatican is lending a hand to put the diocese on a steadier
financial footing. “He has a lot of clout,” said one
Vatican officials expect more
changes to come in the make-up of the Curia, but predict that the Pope will
continue to carry out a measured “re-formation” of the various
In this way, the
(CNS contributed
to this story.)
Edward Pentin
writes from
- Keywords:
- June 11-17, 2006