VATICAN - Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe pastoral visit in Myanmar: “The Feast of Christ, King of the Universe, reminds each one of us that, as disciples, we form part of his Kingdom which we want to extend to the whole world and, in particular, to this Nation Myanmar.”

Vatican City (Fides Service) - On Saturday 20 November, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, started a pastoral visit to a few countries in south east Asia. He arrived in Myanmar in the afternoon and celebrated a solemn Mass of the feast of Christ the King at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Yangon. “I am happy to profess together with you, dear Christian Faithful of the Archdiocese of Mandalay, this faith in Jesus Christ, Lord and King, when I am beginning my pastoral visit to the Church in Myanmar and to this Archdiocese,” the Cardinal said in his homily.
“We know that Jesus of Nazareth does not come to reign as the kings of the world do but to establish the divine power of Love in the heart of the human person, of history and of the world. Christ is the foundation and centre of history of peoples and of every person. It is in fact through him all things were made: His Kingdom is the source of full liberation and total salvation for all people” the Cardinal continued. “Also this Feast reminds us that while we are pilgrims on earth we look towards heaven our definitive homeland. It reminds us to remain faithful and humble in following Christ. He leads us to the kingdom of peace and justice where God will be all in all. And this is our vocation and our Christian commitment”.
On Sunday 21 November Card. Sepe went to Mandalay for another solemn Mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral at which Bishops of the province concelebrated. “Humanity of this new Millennium needs to discover that Christ is its Saviour - the Cardinal said in his homily - This is what you, as Christian faithful, should bring with renewed courage to your brothers and sisters. You have an essential and irreplaceable role in this proclamation and testimony.”
Cardinal Sepe recalled that lay Catholics, thanks to baptism, confirmation, share in Christ’s prophetic mission and they have a special task of building up the Kingdom of God by instilling Christian values in temporal realities, with all the respect due to the human person. After saying to those present: “All forms of evil in the society only urges us not to follow ”, the Cardinal said: “Dear brothers and sisters, be firm in your Christian identity, be heralds and missionaries in your vocation as witnesses of Christ in the society where you live, proclaiming the Gospel of Salvation to all.”.
At the end of his homily the Prefect of the Missionary Congregation said that the Year of the Eucharist offers a great opportunity “to reflect on the mystery of this great gift of Christ himself to the world. His real presence in the Eucharist only reminds us that Christ the King is also with us today as the reason for our hope, the source of strength for our hearts, the wellspring of new zeal and the sign of the triumph of the civilisation of love.”.
This morning, 22 November, Card. Sepe celebrated Mass at the church of Our Lady of Fatima in Yangon, with men and women religious of different congregations involved in pastoral work Myanmar. The Cardinal said their work is deeply appreciated by the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples: “we know the problems and difficulties of every kind that you face daily; as we know also the enthusiasm and dedication that you put in your apostolate. Let us thank the Lord for the wonderful work that we have accomplished together with your missionary cooperation in the area of evangelisation in this country.”
After encouraging the men and women Religious present in their missionary efforts, the Cardinal reflected on the meaning of Consecrated Life and of consecration to Mission: “Your consecrated life itself is a mission as was the whole of Jesus’ life... mission consists in making Christ present to the world through your personal witness! This is the challenge, this is the primary task of your consecrated life!”. Referring to evangelisation Cardinal Sepe said this difficult task calls for “much courage, prudence, perseverance and reflection”, and he said religious men and women are called to promote human development through education, health care and social works: “You are called to serve especially the poor, the marginalised and abandoned. All these types of the apostolate are meant to be a powerful sign of the fruitfulness of the Gospel.”.
Lastly the Cardinal stressed the importance of ongoing formation, a priority to meet adequately the challenges in an ever changing world and to avoid giving way to a temptation of activism for its own sake. Regular spiritual renewal also helps to identify “more clearly and meet the needs of people and share their hopes and expectations”. The Blessed Virgin Mary, model of consecrated life and discipleship, “is a sublime example of perfect consecration since she belongs entirely to God and is to Him totally consecrated” he concluded. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 22/11/2004; righe 59; parole 817)