 "Photo: Cary Lat")
Cardinal Francis Arinze of Nigeria made his first visit to Boston College during one of his few visits to the United States last Tuesday. He held a theological discussion in Burns Library prior to saying Mass and giving a lecture later that evening.
Members of the BC community, including a large representation of students and professors from the theology department, gathered in the British Authors room in Burns to pose questions for Arinze.
Cardinal Arinze is currently president of the Pontifical Council on Interreligious Dialogue at the Vatican. He was appointed to the council by Pope John Paul II in 1985, the same year Arinze became a cardinal. According to many experts, Arinze will be one of the top candidates of the papabili, the list of possible successors to John Paul II. Arinze has recently been speaking to a wide array of audiences on the topic of inter-religous dialogue. Many church historians believe that the electors of the next Pope may be looking for someone who is an expert in this field.
In his opening remarks, Arinze stated that, in today’s society, “we don’t have a choice but to be in favor of inter-religious dialogue.” He commented on the ideal nature of inter-religious dialogue, stating that “it’s not a debate or a contest to see who will win.”
Arinze added that in order to represent one’s religion properly in a dialogue, “they must have a clear-cut image of who they are.” The youthful 68-year-old cardinal, speaking with an almost musical accent, used a great deal of wit to illustrate his points. “If they are not sure,” he said, “it is rather risky. It is as if a citizen of a country does not know the name of the president or the foreign minister and wishes to become an ambassador.”
The Cardinal was asked to explain how the Church’s missionary activity in Africa fits in with his work with inter-religious dialogue. “Evangelization is one element of the Church’s mission — everything Christ sent the Church to do. Missionary work is about proclaiming Christ to the people, and if they believe then they become Christians. It is about listening, trying to understand what we are saying, and there is a hope of conversion,” said Arinze. He added, “With inter-religious dialogue, the goal is mutual understanding. From there we can be open to growth and harmony in society.”
Arinze, in response to another question, stated that the Church maintains a “positive, friendly” relationship with the indigenous religions of Africa. “Their cultures are more appreciated today than they were a hundred years ago,” Arinze said. He stated that Africa currently boasts the greatest percentage of people who convert to Christianity each year, and that indigenous peoples today “are more able to articulate their culture” to Westerners then they had been at the onset of colonization and missionary work.
Today, according to Arinze, “The Church looks for whatever is good, true and noble” in indigenous religions, and tries to integrate these elements with the Gospel wherever possible. “Before we will reject a religious practice, we must make sure that there is absolutely no way it can stand with the Gospel,” Arinze said, citing practices of slave burial or punishment for the mothers of twins as examples.
“God didn’t make humans with the anonymity of matches in a box,” stated Arinze, citing the need for Catholics to retain their distinct cultural identity while being unified under the Church.
In response to more questions, Arinze provided more guidelines for an ideal inter-religious dialogue. He cited religious freedom, mutual acceptance despite disagreement and that ambassadors of faith “must be qualified, they cannot be problem children. They must know that the spirit of God can speak to them even through the ‘other.’” Arinze added, “They must not be politicians or power-seekers, and not regard it as an academic conference. They need to be sincerely consigned to looking for the truth through the will of God.”
Arinze stated that there is much to be learned from the faith of others. As an example, he described a time when he was speaking to Muslim clerics at a reception when, Arinze said, they excused themselves and gathered in a corner to pray. “How many Catholics would be brave enough to take out a rosary on a bus or a plane — that is, while the flight is smooth?” asked Arinze. He also cited cooperation between the Vatican and Muslim leaders in opposing many population control means, including birth-control and abortion, that had been agreed upon by the United Nations in 1999.
In regards to inter-religious dialogue, Arinze stated, “It is a work of faith and hope although we don’t always see the results immediately.” It was standing room only when Cardinal Arinze said Mass in Saint Mary’s Chapel and later addressed a crowd of over 100 in Gasson 101 later that evening.
At the five o’clock Mass in Saint Mary’s Chapel, the Cardinal gave the homily to a congregation that filled the pews, aisles and rear of the church. The service was attended by a wide array of people including students, faculty and many members of the BC community. “It was a rare chance to see such a high ranking official in such an intimate setting,” said one student in attendance. The Cardinal also gave communion to the entire congregation.
He later gave a speech in Gasson Hall that was directed at stating the role of a Catholic university. The Cardinal was introduced by a member of the BC theology department who informed the crowd that Arinze’s birthday was the following day, a statement that brought out the first round of applause from the crowded lecture hall.
The Cardinal spoke for nearly an hour and a half, and drew many rounds of applause and a few sparks of laughter. At the end of the speech, a few lucky people were able to ask the Cardinal short questions.
The way in which these questions were answered exhibited Arinze’s vast knowledge of the topic in which he specializes.
When asked how the American society is affected by a lack of family values, Arinze responded humorously by saying that there are people in this country that can answer that better than he can since this is one of his few times in the country.
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