Japan´s Cardinal Hamao discusses pope´s health, conclave
Sept 15, 2004
Cardinal Hamao asserted, "The Roman Curia is there to serve the local Churches, not to instruct them or criticize them. We must encourage the local Churches, listen to them, listen to their problems, and help them in their difficulties. That should be the attitude of the Roman Curia, and that should be the attitude of the Holy Father."
VATICAN CITY (UCAN, November 7, 2003) - The Japanese prelate, president of the Vatican´s Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, talked to UCA News on the eve of the Oct. 16 celebrations for Pope John Paul´s 25th anniversary as pope. The 73-year-old cardinal received the red hat on Oct. 21 and a special ring Oct. 22, the insignia of his new status, from Pope John Paul at the Vatican.
The Cardinal said of the pope, "I admire very much his courageous activity, and his courageous work in spite of his not so good condition of health." He also praised the pope for his great service to the Church and for his "strong personality". But he said that, given the pope´s "very frail physical condition," he could resign.
Cardinal Hamao would have no objection to the pope resigning, saying: "He may retire, it is good. I hope he does so, because it is pitiful to see him like he is now." However, he added, "I don´t t´think he wants to retire."
The cardinal is one of four Asians working in the Roman Curia, and the only one heading a Vatican office. He made clear he wants to see more Asians in the Roman Curia, as requested by the Synod for Asia in 1998. He said: "The Far East is far from here, there has been very little contact, and even less is known about it. Here the don´t know much about that part of the world."
In June 1998, Pope John Paul named him, then bishop of Yokohama, to head the Vatican office for migrants. He led Yokohama diocese for 19 years, and was president of the Japanese bishops" conference for part of that time.
Cardinal Hamao is convinced that the pope made him a cardinal "not just for personal reasons," but as "a sign of his appreciation for the pastoral work we are doing in this office" for migrants, itinerant people, refugees, sea-farers, gypsies, nomads and other people on the move.
He regards the red hat as a "strong endorsement" by Pope John Paul of the work of his office. When he had his annual meeting with the pope in February, he told the pope, "Holy Father, we are grateful for your courageous interventions in defense of all minorities throughout the world, and so we follow you". The cardinal said the pope was happy to hear that.
Cardinal Hamao went on to tell the pontiff he laments that the ministry to migrants and itinerant people "is not considered so mainstream in the Catholic Church," but the pope assured him of his "full support," saying, "I and your office work together, that is enough!" The pope later confirmed the cardinal in his post as head of the council until the statutory retirement age of 75.
Gunkasu Kano, Japan´s ambassador to the Holy See, has visited Cardinal Hamao, only the fifth Japanese cardinal in Church history, to congratulate him on his elevation to the College of Cardinals.
Cardinal Hamao said he has not yet heard from the Emperor of Japan, though he knows him very well, having taught him Latin when he was crown prince. The cardinal expects to see him on the emperors´s birthday, Dec. 23, when the emperor invites former teachers to an annual reception at the Imperial Palace.
Japan now has two cardinal electors with a right to vote if a conclave were now held to elect a new pope: Cardinal Hamao and Cardinal Peter Shirayanagi Seiichi, 75, archbishop emeritus of Tokyo.
But Cardinal Hamao claims he is not "prepared" for a conclave and does not know many of the 134 cardinal electors, except Asians, Australians, "some" Africans and those in the Roman Curia. "So I must study," he said.
He said the next pope could "still" come from Europe or "probably" Latin America or Africa, but he does not see nationality as an issue. He has clear ideas on qualities he looks for in a candidate to be the next pope.
Cardinal Hamao thinks the next pope "should be like John Paul II" and a man who can "understand the position of the different cultures, religions and customs of the different countries," Evangelization "is very important," he added, but he wants the next pope to be sensitive to other faiths, because "it is very important to have dialogue with other the religions."
He also maintains that the current insistence by some, including the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, on proclaiming Jesus as the unique savior, is an obstacle to dialogue with other faiths. "They do not understand, they cannot understand," he said.
The cardinal said Catholics believe Jesus Christ "is the unique savior" and they know the Christian religion "is a revealed religion, and so is true," but they "must proceed gradually" because "proclamation must be done gradually."
A third quality that Cardinal Hamao looks for in a papal candidate is to "be open, intelligent and welcoming (to) everybody... a person who listens to us," and also ensures that the Roman Curia encourages local Churches.
Cardinal Hamao asserted, "The Roman Curia is there to serve the local Churches, not to instruct them or criticize them. We must encourage the local Churches, listen to them, listen to their problems, and help them in their difficulties. That should be the attitude of the Roman Curia, and that should be the attitude of the Holy Father."
He also considers it "very important" that the next pope have pastoral experience in a diocese, as Pope John Paul had. "Pastoral experience is a very important factor in choosing the next pope," the cardinal stated.
Cardinal Hamao also wants the next pope to call the "Third Vatican Council." Synods of bishops, he said, "resolve nothing; they just produce repetitions -always repetitions. The bishops make proposals at the synods, and the Holy Father gives an apostolic exhortation, but nothing is decided."
On synods of bishops not taking decisions, Cardinal Hamao said: "I don´t think this is due to the Holy Father. But the fact is there is no change in the structures of the Church. This does not strengthen the faith."
When he votes at the next conclave, Cardinal Hamao said he will above all else be looking closely at the mentality, outlook and vision of the candidate to be pope, rather than at his nationality. He also wants a pope who can communicate in various languages and be easily understood by people.
Japan´s Cardinal Hamao discusses pope´s health, conclave