Bishop Pitchaimuthu at the First Franciscan Missionary Symposium: “Asia does not need missionaries who come with all the answers. It needs brothers and sisters who bring Christ”

by Elena Grazini

Chennai (Fides News Agency) – “Asia does not need missionaries who come with all the answers. It needs brothers and sisters who bring Christ, walk alongside the people, listen deeply, discern patiently, serve the wounded, build peace, and proclaim the name of Jesus with humility and joy.”
These were the opening words of Bishop Ambrose Pitchaimuthu of the Diocese of Vellore and National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in India, who delivered the introductory address at the First Franciscan Missionary Symposium, held on August 1–2 in Chennai. The symposium, entitled “Proclaiming Christ in today’s Asia with Saint Francis of Assisi,” took place in the Indian city that is home to St. Thomas Basilica, built over the tomb of the Apostle. (See Fides, 30/7/2026).

In his address, Bishop Pitchaimuthu highlighted the three fundamental realities at the heart of the symposium: the person we are called to proclaim, Jesus Christ; the context in which He is proclaimed, namely Asia today; and the evangelical companion who teaches how to proclaim Him, in the person of Saint Francis of Assisi.

The Bishop also situated the symposium within the framework of four significant anniversaries: the 800th anniversary of the Transitus of Saint Francis of Assisi; the centenary of World Mission Day; the 110th anniversary of the Pontifical Missionary Union; and the 50th anniversary of TAU magazine. “The Transitus of Saint Francis,” Bishop Pitchaimuthu noted, “invites us to remember a life fully conformed to Christ. World Mission Day urges us to proclaim Christ in communion with the universal Church. The anniversary of the Pontifical Missionary Union calls us to form the entire People of God in missionary awareness. The jubilee of the TAU reminds us to communicate the Gospel through theological reflection, writing, culture, and contemporary media.”

Seven guidelines for the “Franciscan mission” in Asia

The symposium unfolded over four sessions: two focused on the Franciscan charism, one dedicated to proclaiming the Gospel in Asia, and a final workshop centred on formation and the sharing of missionary experiences.

The central theme running through the entire Symposium was a question: “How can the Franciscan family proclaim Jesus Christ in a credible, humble and courageous way among the peoples of Asia today?”

In his keynote address, Bishop Pitchaimuthu proposed seven guiding principles for the Franciscan mission in Asia: beginning anew from Christ; becoming communities of mission rather than isolated individuals engaged in ministry; combining proclamation and dialogue; reaching out to Asia’s “wounded places” — urban peripheries, villages left behind by development, migrant communities, areas affected by ecological disasters, prisons, hospitals, refugee settlements, universities and digital spaces; allowing the poor to evangelize us; forming missionary disciples at every level; and communicating hope.

Cardinal Marengo: A proclamation of the Gospel to be “whispered”

The Symposium’s first session focused on evangelization in Asia and enriched the discussion with testimonies from a variety of social and geographical contexts.

Among the speakers was Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

In a video message, the missionary Cardinal summarized his pastoral experience into five key insights.
He identified the foundation of mission in relationships; in the primacy of being over doing and possessing; in charity as the language of God's love; in evangelization as awakening the human capacity to love; and finally in “whispering” as the privileged way of proclaiming the Gospel. (See Fides, 24/6/2026).

Testimonies from the Pontifical Mission Societies

The Symposium also featured the experiences of two National Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies.

Father Paul Chatsirey, National Director of the PMS in Laos and Cambodia, stressed that dialogue in those countries is above all diplomatic in nature and that maintaining good relations while respecting civil law is essential.
“We continue to bear witness and proclaim the Good News by living in peace, mutual respect and understanding, and in a spirit of synodality,” Father Chatsirey said.
A different perspective was offered by Father Marcus Fernandes, OFMCap, at the who head of Missio Avona, the Pontifical Mission Societies office established in the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia.
“We are the Church of migrants in the Arabian Gulf,” Father Fernandes explained. “Our churches are few, and for this reason they are like spiritual oases for every believer in the desert. Every family is a domestic church that prays and bears witness to Christ within its own home. Therefore, every baptized person is called to be a missionary, sharing the Word of God that brings hope and strength to our daily lives.”
(Fides News Agency, 4/8/2026)

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