In a powerful sermon that blended spiritual wisdom with cultural warmth, Myanmar’s Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, the former President of FABC (2019-2024), called for a Church in Asia that listens, serves, and smiles, as he presided over the Holy Mass for the Great Pilgrimage of Hope 2025 on November 28, at the Light Hotel, Penang, Malaysia.

Greeting the diverse congregation with “Mingalaba! Mabuhay! Vanakkam!” the Cardinal opened by celebrating Asia’s vibrant diversity. “You see? Asia already sounds like Pentecost before we even start!” he remarked to the 900 participants from 32 countries, including a 30-member delegation from Myanmar.

His homily, titled “Journeying Together as the People of Asia in the company of The Asian Jesus,” acknowledged the “storms” facing the continent—from conflict and displacement to consumerism and digital noise, much like the terrifying beasts in the Book of Daniel.

“The poor prophet must have been trembling like some of us do when we open social media or turn on the news!” he said, drawing relatable parallels. Yet, he assured the faithful that the “Son of Man,” Jesus, brings a kingdom of peace amidst the chaos.

Cardinal Bo proposed five “lights” to guide the Church’s synodal journey in Asia, challenging the faithful to move beyond a faith that “looks like we just drank bitter medicine.”

His first light was The Light of Listening. “If we Asians love one thing, it’s talking! (And sometimes, we talk even when no one is listening),” he joked, urging for a silence of attention rather than fear. “A listening community becomes a healing community.”

The second, Leadership as Service, called for humility. “A true leader washes feet, not points fingers,” he said, adding wryly, “If your ring makes you feel like a king instead of a shepherd, it’s time to take it off.”

He named Diversity as a Gift as the third light, challenging the Church to shake off the “curse” of cultural divisions like caste and tribe. “It’s not chaos — it’s His art,” he stated.

His fourth light placed The Poor Central to the Gospel, asking, “Where would Jesus live if He came back today? Probably not in the palace… but among the poor, the migrants, the displaced.”

Finally, he urged the Church to ensure The Young Find a Church Alive and Joyful. “They want a Church that listens, not lectures; a Church that dances as well as prays!” he said, noting that if the Church doesn’t provide meaning, youth will seek it in “unceasing scrolling.”

Cardinal Bo concluded with a vision of a continent where Christ’s message of love is heard by all, ending with a prayer: “Lord Jesus, walk again with your people in Asia… Until Your Word becomes flesh again in every heart and every home in Asia. Amen.”