Missionary Cardinal

Does it surprise you that the Pope chooses a missionary as a cardinal?

No, it isn’t. The Pope repeats again and again that we must be a missionary Church. That means we have a lot to learn from Catholics in other cultures. A missionary Church is a Church where we mutually enrich each other. For example, I was deeply impressed by the vitality of the small Christian communities in the Archdiocese of Kinshasa when I was active there. Now I try to share that experience in my diocese and with the other bishops of Ghana. We have great parishes; these are best networks of smaller communities. In communities that are too large, you get lost in anonymity.

There people know each other, they come together around the Word of God, they can pray together and support each other in their Christianity. Didn’t Jesus say, “Where two or three people are gathered in My name, I am in their midst” (Mt 18:20)? It is from such local groups that the joy of being a Christian can spread further and that we can make a difference in the regions where we are present.

(Cardinal Richard Kuula Baawobr M.Afr in interview Tertio)