In an interview with the Daily compass portal On Thursday, Cardinal William Goh, Archbishop of Singapore, said he expects greater doctrinal clarity by Pope Leo XIV.
“If we are not clear about what the Church teaches, it is very difficult to work together in unity. Although both the so -called ‘left’ and the ‘right’ of the Church are interested in promoting the mission of evangelization, there has been an internal division on certain issues such as marriage, LGBTQ+ rights and the rights of transgender people. These issues have divided the church because, at one time, it ceased to be clear.
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The Cardinal said that, as Agustino, Pope Leo XIV has “a solid base in the tradition and spirituality of St. Augustine.”
“At the same time,” Goh continued, who was created Cardinal by Pope Francis in 2022, Pope Leo XIV “has worked in Peru and is familiar with situations of poverty and suffering. He also spent several years in Rome and, therefore, he knows the challenges facing the curia. Having been a general prior to order, he has already demonstrated his leadership qualities. In his first public appearances, he and did. ”
He continued: “It seems to me a man aware that the statements of a Pope take seriously, so he is cautious and prudent. This is appreciated because it means that people will not be confused. I think he can clarify the doctrine and prevent the ‘left’ and the ‘right’ from facing each other. He will not be ambiguous and will not leave the interpretation of his words open to individual interpretations.”
According to the portal, Goh said about Pope Francis: “I think that the least pleasant aspect of his pontificate was that his teachings seemed ambiguous in his attempt to reach everyone in terms of doctrine and morality.”
Goh also addressed the issue of traditional liturgy.
“Personally, I think there is no reason to discourage people who prefer Tridentine Mass,” said the cardinal. “They are not doing anything wrong or sinful. Of course, the unity of the Church must be preserved, but we already have different rites, such as the Siro-Malabar rite. We can accept different ways of celebrating the Eucharist, so we should not suppress those who prefer the Tridentine rite.”
Ultimately, he said, “it is not the rite or the form of celebration that matters”, but “if one is deeply with God.”
Goh said he does not celebrate in the traditional way, “but I am not against those who celebrate it. In my country, there is a small group of about 300 people, mostly young professionals. Sometimes I ask them: ‘Why do they prefer this celebration?’ They respond that they find it more reflective and contemplative, and that closer to God.
In addition, he added: “If they rejected the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, that, of course, would be a completely different matter and should be disciplined. But they do not, and therefore I do not think we should discriminate them. After all, this is the mass that has been held for hundreds of years, isn’t it?”.
Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in CNA German.
Martin Bürger
Martin Bürger is an interim chief editor of CNA Deutsch. It has been writing almost two decades on Catholic issues and has reported from Germany, Austria and North America. He completed his theology studies at a pontifical university with a mastery.