Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, President, Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC)
Oct 30 2020
Letter of Congratulations to the new Cardinal Designate: Bishop Cornelius Sim
Dear Brothers and Sisters of Church in Asia, Peace and Joy of Christ.
Our cup of joy overflows today. Our Holy Father Pope has bestowed on our dear brother Bishop Cornelius Sim, apostolic vicar of Brunei, the honor of Cardinal Hat. The consistory in November will see him the first Cardinal from Brunei.
It is a call to mission.
On behalf of the FABC, I warmly welcome him to the College of Cardinals. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis has been reinvigorating the Church with his focus on the margins, calling for shepherds from countries in Asia to be in his college of Cardinals.
Pope Francis has made known in every Papal consistory, the clarion call to service of every Cardinal. This elevation to the role of Cardinal is a call to service to the margins, a call to follow Jesus in his assertion: service is power.
The Pope has called us all to wage war against the two great injustices in the world: Economic injustice and environmental injustice. The Covid, the Pope had indicated, exposed the infection of the world with injustice. His call is to participate in a more just post Covid world.
I am glad that Bishop has accepted this challenge to service. We, as fellow sojourners, welcome our dear Bishop to this commitment.
May God who blesses every good effort, bless you abundantly and fortify you to the new call to mission.
Accompanying the Bishop in prayers,
Your Brother in Mission,
Cardinal Charles Maung Bo., SOB
President, Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC)
27 October 2020
