Catholic leaders want Pope Benedict XVI to be open, sensitive to other religions

New Delhi – Amid rumors that the new Pope Benedict XVI is a ‘hardliner’ and intolerant of other religions, Indian Christian leaders have expressed hope that the new pontiff should work for an equitable world by displaying sensitivity towards other religions, especially in multireligious nations like India.

Speaking to reporters, Archbishop Thomas Menaparambil of Guwahati expressed that the new Pope should understand Asia's "historical heritage and its variety, deep sense of religion and eagerness for philosophical depth" and be sensitive to the various cultures and civilizations. The new pontiff also should be "a good person," who is "authentic to the truth of the Gospel and close to the community," he said.

The successor of Pope John Paul II will have to provide "great moral leadership" and stand for "justice and truth," according to Fr. Hector D’Souza, Jesuit provincial for South Asia.

With new leadership, the Church should shift its focus to Latin America and the rest of the Third World, where 65 percent of the world's Catholics live, said Fr. D'Souza, adding, "Europe has had its day."

"We need to look at Africa and Latin America," the priest continued, pointing out that the vast majority of Catholics in these regions are poor. “The new Pope should provide proactive leadership in addressing important issues for those continents,” he said.

"[He must] understand the pluralistic society and multireligious contexts and continue dialogue for the advancement of humanity,” he said.

Jesuit Fr. TK John, a noted theologian, agreed with him and said there is growing awareness that the Church's ministry "should go according to the needs of the times."

The new Pope, "over everything else, should understand changes in societies and aspirations of people," he said. "Things are changing very fast – self–understanding, morality, relationships – and accordingly, the Church has to reformulate values of the Gospel."

According to Fr. John, the new Pope will face tension within the Church about preserving its faith heritage and making it intelligible to people without altering it. Such tension arises alongside the challenges presented by science and technology, he added.

Recalling that the previous pope took "a lot of steps" to add a positive element in interreligious affairs through dialogue and interaction, the Jesuit priest said the Church has a growing understanding of religions and cultures.

The new Pope "should have this kind of sensitivity" in order to listen to what is coming out of other religious traditions, "even if sometimes they are very strong and very negative," he concluded.

Jesuit Fr. Joe Antony, editor of the "The New Leader," a Catholic biweekly magazine, expects the new Pope to continue Pope John Paul's "courageous and persistent proclamation of the Gospel of Life." Opposition to war, abortion and euthanasia and "capitalism that has no compassion" are part of this, he said.

“The Holy Spirit is with us and God is guiding the Church. God knows what is best and who He wants to lead his people. Our expectations do not come into the picture,” said Rev. Henry D’Souza, retired Archbishop of Calcutta.