Pope Francis defends the inculturation of Christianity and rejects faith as an ideology

After meeting with the president of East Timor, Pope Francis held a meeting at the presidential palace with the authorities, civil society and diplomatic corps of East Timor, a country in which he will remain until Wednesday the 11th.

In his first speech on this third stage of his trip, which he read in Spanish, Pope Francis recalled how the first Dominican missionaries arrived in the country from Portugal in the 16th century, “bringing with them Catholicism and the Portuguese language.”

Christianity “is not an ideological faith”

“Christianity, born in Asia, reached these distant regions of the continent through European missionaries, which testifies to its universal vocation and its ability to harmonize with the most diverse cultures, which, upon encountering the Gospel, reach to a new, higher and deeper synthesis,” he then highlighted.

In this way, he explained that “Christianity becomes inculturated,” emphasizing that the binomial of “inculturation and evangelization of culture” is essential for Christianity. “It is not an ideological faith, it is a faith rooted in culture,” he stressed.

The fight for the independence of East Timor

Pope Francis also recalled that the country has gone through “a painful phase in its recent past, experiencing the convulsions and violence that usually occur when a people sets out in search of full independence and that search for autonomy is denied or frustrated.”

It should be noted that, after becoming independent from Portugal in 1975, East Timor was invaded in 1976 by Indonesian forces, until May 20, 2002, when it finally declared its independence.

The Pontiff was grateful that its inhabitants have not lost hope and stressed that they were able to achieve “these important goals” thanks to the fact that they are “rooted in the Catholic faith.”

Along these lines, he also thanked them for their reconciliation with “the brothers of Indonesia” and their ability to transform “pain into joy,” highlighting that they are “a suffering but wise people.”

He also recalled that “the peace of unity is always superior to conflict” and praised the policy “of the outstretched hand, which is very wise and is not stupid, because when the outstretched hand sees itself betrayed, it knows how to fight and carry out the things”.

He also highlighted that they have included as a national document the Declaration on Human Fraternitywhich the Holy Father signed together with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, in Abu Dhabi, on February 4, 2019.

Later, he exhorted them that the faith, “which has illuminated and sustained you in the past, be what continues to inspire your present and your future.”

The current challenges of the country

Next, he looked at some current challenges such as the phenomenon of emigration, poverty, and those situations that can be considered true social plagues, “such as the abuse of alcoholic beverages among young people and their incorporation into gangs.” “Violence is always a threat in the towns,” he remarked.

“And let us not forget so many children and adolescents whose dignity is wounded,” asked the Holy Father, who lamented that this is “a phenomenon that is emerging throughout the world.”

For this reason, he stressed that “we are all called to act responsibly to prevent all types of abuse and guarantee a peaceful growth for our young people.”

Faced with these problems, he stated that it is essential to “prepare adequately, with specialized training, to those who are called to be, in the not distant future, the ruling class of the country.”

“The Social Doctrine of the Church is not an ideology”

He highlighted that the Church makes its social doctrine available as a basis “for this training process, which constitutes an irreplaceable pillar on which to develop specific knowledge.”

“The Social Doctrine of the Church is not an ideology, it is based on fraternity,” he asserted. A doctrine, the Pontiff continued, “that favors the development of people and especially the poorest.”

During his speech, Pope Francis also encouraged the authorities to have confidence and maintain a “hopeful future” outlook in the face of difficulties.

He then left the official speech aside and stated that “the best thing this country has is the people.” Take care of your people, the Holy Father continued, “love your people, make that people grow, which is wonderful.” “Your people express themselves with dignity and joy, they are a happy people,” he added.

Need for training for “a young people”

He also highlighted that they are “a young people”, since about 65% of the population is under 30 years old: “that is a wealth”, he highlighted.

“This figure tells us that the first area in which you have to invest is in education, in the family and in school. An education that puts children and young people at the center, and promotes their dignity.”

“The enthusiasm, freshness, projection towards the future, courage and ingenuity, typical of young people, together with the experience and wisdom of the elders, form a providential mix of knowledge and generous impulses towards tomorrow,” stood out.

In this sense, he asked to bring together “children with grandparents” and stressed that this meeting “provokes wisdom.”

He also stressed that “the Catholic Church, its social doctrine, its institutions of assistance and charity for the poor, also educational and medical assistance, are at the service of everyone and constitute a valuable resource that allows us to look at the future with eyes full of hope”.

“Looking at your recent past and at what has been achieved so far, there is reason to be confident that your nation will also be able to confront current difficulties and problems with intelligence and creativity,” he said.

In conclusion, he entrusted all its inhabitants “to the protection of the Immaculate Conception, their heavenly Patroness invoked with the title of Virgin of Aitara.”

“May she always accompany you and help you in the mission of building a free, democratic and supportive country, where no one feels excluded and everyone can live in peace and dignity,” the Holy Father finally said.