Diversity should unite, not divide, Cardinal Tagle tells Asian and Pacific Island Catholics

INDIANAPOLIS (OSV News) -- In a rousing, often laugh-inducing address, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle implored the more than 300 attendees of the Asian and Pacific Islander Catholics National Encounter in Indianapolis to remain committed as witnesses to the truth of Jesus Christ.

Speaking to a diverse crowd, all of whom came from a cross-section of Asian and Pacific Island nations, like Vietnam, the Philippines, Korea, China, Laos, Myanmar and Samoa, among many others, Cardinal Tagle said, "Let us give witness to (Jesus') universal love and let us begin it ourselves. In our diversity, we see the presence of the creative God. Each (culture) needs to be purified, but each one also has something good to contribute. Let us embrace the diversity and elevate into a higher level of communion and love, all for the name of Jesus."

Among the audience were bishops, clergy, men and women religious, and lay ministry leaders, many focused on serving Asian and Pacific Island Catholics living around the U.S., some traveling as far as Hawaii.

The event was held July 15-17 at Indiana University Indianapolis and Purdue University in Indianapolis, just days ahead of the National Eucharistic Congress. Cardinal Tagle's visit to the event kicked off a series of events in Indianapolis for the Manila-born Vatican official, who is the pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization's Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches.

The Filipino cardinal, who previously led the Archdiocese of Manila, Philippines, prior to being called to Rome, was designated Pope Francis' special envoy to the congress in Indianapolis and will celebrate the closing Mass July 21.

Often shifting between his native Tagalog, Cardinal Tagle reflected on the national encounter's theme, "Radiant Faith: The Witness of Asian and Pacific Island Catholics," and contrasted stories of encounters in Rome with fellow Filipinos with the stark realization of the shifting landscape of the Catholic Church in the U.S. and around the world, especially in Africa and Asian countries.

Still in the face of growing polarization and questions of the role of diversity in society, Cardinal Tagle encouraged the participants to remain close to Jesus Christ.

"I hope we, who come from diverse cultures now living here in the United States, give a witness to how diversity should not divide, but should unite and enrich one another," he said. "By God's grace, by God's calling, please, let us be witnesses to the truth of Christ. Look to him, listen to him. Allow him to touch us. For it is only this living relationship with Christ that would enable us to give witness to him. We cannot witness to someone that we do not know. We cannot give witness to someone whom we have not seen, heard or touched."

Reflecting on the myriads of diverse cultures and ethnicities present both at the Asian and Pacific Islander national encounter and in the Catholic Church in the U.S. and around the world, Cardinal Tagle also called for greater witness from Catholics who have encountered the living Christ.

"Where is the witness to Christ, who offered his life for all and not just for a chosen few? Not just for his friends, but for all and for us in Asia and the Pacific," he said. "I think it needs the witness to, Christ needs to take this very specific manifestation of being able to embrace the diversity. Part of witnessing to Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit is showing the world that in Christ and in the Holy Spirit, the diversity of cultures, of peoples of languages does not necessarily lead to division."

"Diversity and division are two different things. Diversity could even lead to a wealthy richness of experience," he said. "That's what Jesus came to do; Jesus embraced even the so-called outsiders of his time."

Jesus made heroes and heroines of the Samaritans, he praised the faith of the Roman centurion, all who were thought to be outsiders, he said.

"In Jesus, diversity is not a problem," Cardinal Tagle said. "Diversity in fact, enriches (and) gives a testimonial witness to the universal love of the Father."

First appointed archbishop of Manila in October of 2011, Cardinal Tagle was elevated to the College of Cardinals in November of 2012 at age 55. Seven years later, in 2019, Pope Francis named him prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Then in 2022, he was appointed a pro-prefect in the Dicastery for Evangelization.