Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bangkok (Fides Service) - The Asian Churches welcome with appreciation and with high hopes the appointment of Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli as the first Apostolic Nuncio at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). As reported to Fides, the local Churches hope that he can be a voice that encourages dialogue and good relations between the Churches and governments, brings Christian values and creates more attention to issues such as protection of human dignity, religious freedom and human rights in ASEAN countries.
Mgr. Girelli is already Apostolic Nuncio in Singapore and East Timor, the apostolic Delegate in Malaysia and Brunei and non-resident papal representative for Vietnam, and "for many years has been an expert in the complex reality of Southeast Asia", remarks Fr. Raymond O'Toole in an interview with Fides, who works at the General Secretariat of the FABC, the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences. "His presence at the meetings of ASEAN –he notes - will serve as a social conscience and moral compass, based on the teaching of the Church in these difficult situations where references are needed or are missing altogether". In the ASEAN, recalls Fr. O'Toole, there are "countries like Myanmar where dictatorship penalizes dissent and lack of tolerance; such as Indonesia, where Islamic extremism increases, such as Vietnam, with signs of openness on the one hand and hardness on the other. The presence of a voice of the Church at the table of discussion is a positive step forward", he adds.
"In the most difficult realities of Asian countries - the Indian Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil, head of the Commission for the Evangelization in the FABC explains to Fides - we need, as a Church, a dialogical approach that, respects the historical and cultural traditions of each context and develops good relations on a local level. We are confident that the presence of the Nuncio in the ASEAN will be an opportunity to improve relations with civil authorities and the conditions of the people of the region, so the states and Churches work together for the good common".
Fr. Peter Watchasin, a priest from Bangkok and Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Thailand, believes the appointment is very important: "We hope more attention, among the ASEAN countries, will be given to issues related to religious freedom and human rights. I think, for example, about the difficult situation of believers in Laos, where freedom of worship is also severely limited. I think there is space for hope and good news".
Born in the late '60s, to promote interest on a political, economic and cultural level, the Association of South East Asia Countries, currently has 10 members: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand (the 5 founders), Brunei , Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia. Among the aims of ASEAN, promote economic growth, peace and regional stability, friendship and cooperation. The Association represents more than 560 million people. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 21/06/2011)
