When Pope Francis spoke to Asia Times on China – Asia Times
Pope Francis gave his first-ever meeting on China and the Chinese people on January 28, 2016, to then-Asia Times journalist and China Renmin University senior scientist Francesco Sisci. The Pope urged the world not to worry China ’s rapid rise in a traditional one-hour appointment at the Vatican.
He said the Taiwanese people are in a good time and delivered a message of hope, peace and reconciliation as an alternative to battle, hot or cold. The pope even sent Foreign New Year’s welcome to the Chinese people and President Xi Jinping, the first extended by a Pope to a Chinese president for the Lunar New Year in 2,000 years.
Sisci’s special interview took place in a Vatican house decorated with a mural of the Holy Mary Undoer of Knots, in which she performs the mystery of untying difficult twists. It is republished here on the situation of the Pope’s departure.
ROME– He felt it quickly, or but I sensed, and he tried to put me at ease. He was best. I was in fact frightened. I had spent long periods hammering down every aspect of the questions I was going to ask, and he had wanted time to think and churned them over.
I asked for an appointment on broad social and intellectual issues concerning all Taiwanese, of which over 99 % are no Catholic. I did n’t like to touch on religious or political concerns, of which another Popes, at other times had spoken.
I hoped he could present to frequent Chinese his enormous animal emotion by speaking for the first time ever on issues that worry them regularly – the rupture of the classic relatives, their difficulties in being understood and understanding the western world, their sense of guilt from earlier experiences such as the Cultural Revolution, etc. He did it and gave the Chinese and citizens concerned about China ’s hard fall motives for hope, peace and mediation with each other.
The Pope believes the Chinese are in a good action. He says they should not be scared of this, nor does the rest of the world. He also believes the Chinese have a wonderful legacy of knowledge that will strengthen them and everyone and will support all to find a quiet way ahead. This appointment is, in some respect, the Pope’s manner of blessing China.
Sisci: What is China for you? How did you think China to become as a young man, given that China, for Argentina, is not the East but the far West? What does Matteo Ricci mean to you?
Pope Francis : For me, China has always been a research point of glory. A wonderful country. But more than a state, a wonderful culture, with an unlimited wisdom. For me, as a child, whenever I read something about China, it had the ability to persuade my enthusiasm. I have enthusiasm for China.
Eventually, I looked into Matteo Ricci’s career and I saw how this man felt the same thing in the specific method I did, admiration, and how he was able to enter into speech with this wonderful society, with this age-old knowledge. He was able to “encounter ” it.
When I was young, and China was spoken of, we thought of the Great Wall. The rest was not known in my homeland. But as I looked more and more into the matter, I had an experience of encounter which was very different, in time and manner, to that experienced by Ricci.
Yet I came across something I had not expected. Ricci’s experience teaches us that it is necessary to enter into dialogue with China, because it is an accumulation of wisdom and history. It is a land blessed with many things. And the Catholic Church, one of whose duties is to respect all civilizations, before this civilization, I would say, has the duty to respect it with a capital “R. ” The Church has great potential to receive culture.
The other day I had the opportunity to see the paintings of another great Jesuit, Giuseppe Castiglione– who also had the Jesuit virus ( laughs ). Castiglione knew how to express beauty, the experience of openness in dialogue: receiving from others and giving of one’s self on a wavelength that is “civilized ” of civilizations.
When I say “civilized”, I do not mean only “educated ” civilizations, but also civilizations that encounter one another. Also, I don’t know whether it is true but they say that Marco Polo was the one who brought pasta noodles to Italy ( laughs ). So it was the Chinese who invented them. I don’t know if this is true. But I say this in passing.
This is the impression I have, great respect. And more than this, when I crossed China for the first time, I was told in the aircraft: “Within ten minutes we will enter Chinese airspace, and send your greeting”. I confess that I felt very emotional, something that does not usually happen to me. I was moved to be flying over this great richness of culture and wisdom.
Sisci: China, for the first time in its thousands of years of history, is emerging from its own environment and opening to the world, creating unprecedented challenges for itself and for the world. You have spoken of a third world war that is furtively advancing: what challenges does this present in the quest for peace?
Pope Francis : Being afraid is never a good counselor. Fear is not a good counselor. If a father and a mother are fearful when they have an adolescent son, they will not know how to deal with him well.
In other words, we must not fear challenges of any kind, since everyone, male and female, has within them the capacity to find ways of co-existing, of respect and mutual admiration. And it is obvious that so much culture and so much wisdom, and in addition, so much technical knowledge – we have only to think of age-old medicinal techniques– cannot remain enclosed within a country; they tend to expand, to spread, to communicate.
Man tends to communicate, a civilization tends to communicate. It is evident that when communication happens in an aggressive tone to defend oneself, then wars result. But I would not be fearful. It is a great challenge to keep the balance of peace. Here we have Grandmother Europe, as I said in Strasbourg. It appears that she is no longer Mother Europe. I hope she will be able to reclaim that role again.
And she receives from this age-old country an increasingly rich contribution. And so it is necessary to accept the challenge and to run the risk of balancing this exchange for peace. The Western world, the Eastern world and China all have the capacity to maintain the balance of peace and the strength to do so. We must find the way, always through dialogue; there is no other way. ( He opens his arms as if extending an embrace. )
Encounter is achieved through dialogue. The true balance of peace is realized through dialogue. Dialogue does not mean that we end up with a compromise, half the cake for you and the other half for me. This is what happened in Yalta and we saw the results. No, dialogue means: look, we have got to this point, I may or may not agree, but let us walk together; this is what it means to build. And the cake stays whole, walking together.
The cake belongs to everyone, it is humanity, culture. Carving up the cake, as in Yalta, means dividing humanity and culture into small pieces. And culture and humanity cannot be carved into small pieces. When I speak about this large cake I mean it in a positive sense. Everyone has an influence to bear on the common good of all. ( The Pope smiles and asks: “ I don’t know if the example of the cake is clear for the Chinese? ”, I nod: “ I think so. ” )
Sisci: China has experienced over the last few decades tragedies without comparison. Since 1980, the Chinese have sacrificed that which has always been most dear to them, their children.
For the Chinese, these are very serious wounds. Among other things, this has left enormous emptiness in their consciences and, somehow, an extremely deep need to be reconciled with themselves and to forgive themselves. In the Year of Mercy, what message can you offer the Chinese people?
Pope Francis : The aging of a population and of humanity is happening in many places. Here in Italy the birth rate is almost below zero, and in Spain too, more or less. The situation in France, with its policy of assistance to families, is improving. And it is obvious that populations age.
They age and they do not have children. In Africa, for example, it was a pleasure to see children in the streets. Here in Rome, if you walk around, you will see very few children. Perhaps behind this there is the fear you are alluding to, the mistaken perception, not that we will simply fall behind, but that we will fall into misery, so therefore, let’s not have children.
There are other societies that have opted for the contrary. For example, during my trip to Albania, I was astonished to discover that the average age of the population is approximately 40 years. There exist young countries; I think Bosnia and Herzegovina is the same. Countries that have suffered and opt for youth. Then there is the problem of work. Something that China does not have, because it has the capacity to offer work both in the countryside and in the city.
And it is true, the problem for China of not having children must be very painful; because the pyramid is then inverted and a child has to bear the burden of his father, mother, grandfather and grandmother. And this is exhausting, demanding, disorientating. It is not the natural way. I understand that China has opened up possibilities on this front.
Sisci: How should these challenges of families in China be faced, given that they find themselves in a process of profound change and no longer correspond to the traditional Chinese model of the family?
Pope Francis : Taking up the theme, in the Year of Mercy, what message can I give to the Chinese people? The history of a people is always a path. A people at times walks more quickly, at times more slowly, at times it pauses, at times it makes a mistake and goes backwards a little, or takes the wrong path and has to retrace its steps to follow the right way.
But when a people moves forward, this does not worry me because it means they are making history. And I believe that the Chinese people are moving forward and this is their greatness. It walks, like all populations, through lights and shadows.
Looking at this past – and perhaps the fact of not having children creates a complex – it is healthy to take responsibility for one’s own path. Well, we have taken this route, something here did not work at all, so now other possibilities are opened up.
Other issues come into play: the selfishness of some of the wealthy sectors who prefer not to have children, and so forth. They have to take responsibility for their own path. And I would go further: do not be bitter, but be at peace with your own path, even if you have made mistakes. I cannot say my history was bad, that I hate my history. ( The Pope gives me a penetrating look. )
No, every people must be reconciled with its history as its own path, with its successes and its mistakes. And this reconciliation with one’s own history brings much maturity, much growth. Here I would use the word mentioned in the question: mercy. It is healthy for a person to have mercy towards himself, not to be sadistic or masochistic.
That is wrong. And I would say the same for a people: it is healthy for a population to be merciful towards itself. And this nobility of soul … I don’t know whether or not to use the word forgiveness, I don’t know.
But to accept that this was my path, to smile, and to keep going. If one gets tired and stops, one can become bitter and corrupt. And so, when one takes responsibility for one’s own path, accepting it for what it was, this allows one’s historical and cultural richness to emerge, even in difficult moments.
And how can it be allowed to emerge? Here we return to the first question: in dialogue with today’s world. To dialogue does not mean that I surrender myself, because at times there is the danger, in the dialogue between different countries, of hidden agendas, namely, cultural colonizations.
It is necessary to recognize the greatness of the Chinese people, who have always maintained their culture. And their culture – I am not speaking about ideologies that there may have been in the past – their culture was not imposed.
Sisci: The country ’s economic growth proceeded at an overwhelming pace but this has also brought with it human and environmental disasters, which Beijing is striving to confront and resolve.
At the same time, the pursuit of work efficiency is burdening families with new costs: sometimes children and parents are separated due to the demands of work. What message can you give them?
Pope Francis : I feel rather like a “mother-in-law ” giving advice on what should be done ( laughs ). I would suggest a healthy realism; reality must be accepted from wherever it comes. This is our reality; as in football, the goalkeeper must catch the ball from wherever it comes. Reality must be accepted for what it is. Be realistic. This is our reality.
First, I must be reconciled with reality. I don’t like it, I am against it, it makes me suffer, but if I don’t come to terms with it, I won’t be able to do anything. The second step is to work to improve reality and to change its direction.
Now, you see that these are simple suggestions, somewhat commonplace. But to be like an ostrich, that hides its head in the sand so as not to see reality, nor accept it, is no solution. Well then, let us discuss, let us keep searching, let us continue walking, always on the path, on the move. The water of a river is pure because it flows ahead; still water becomes stagnant. It is necessary to accept reality as it is, without disguising it, without refining it, and to find ways of improving it.
Well, here is something that is very important. If this happens to a company which has worked for twenty years and there is a business crisis, then there are few avenues of creativity to improve it. On the contrary, when it happens in an age-old country, with its age-old history, its age-old wisdom, its age-old creativity, then tension is created between the present problem and this past of ancient richness.
And this tension brings fruitfulness as it looks to the future. I believe that the great richness of China today lies in looking to the future from a present that is sustained by the memory of its cultural past. Living in tension, not in anguish, and the tension is between its very rich past and the challenge of the present which has to be carried forth into the future; that is, the story does n’t end here.
Sisci: On the occasion of the upcoming Chinese New Year of the Monkey, would you like to send a greeting to the Chinese people, to the Authorities and to President Xi Jinping?
Pope Francis : On the eve of the New Year, I wish to convey my best wishes and greetings to President Xi Jinping and to all the Chinese people. And I wish to express my hope that they never lose their historical awareness of being a great people, with a great history of wisdom, and that they have much to offer to the world.
The world looks to this great wisdom of yours. In this New Year, with this awareness, may you continue to go forward in order to help and cooperate with everyone in caring for our common home and our common peoples. Thank you!
Francesco Sisci is currently director of the Appia Institute think tank.
Tribute to Pope Francis: The environmental pope
- His campaigning for the planet has greatly impacted the Church & the universe
- Created Laudato si’ the initial papal essay dedicated to the environment
Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88, leaves behind a tremendous legacy as the “Environmental Pope”— a sheep who elevated the treatment for generation to the spirit of Catholic training and international conscience. His church marked a turning point, not only for the Church but for the universe, in recognizing the moral and spiritual aspects of the economic crises.
A Moral Voice for the Earth
From the outset of his papacy, Pope Francis signaled a novel time by choosing the name of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of biodiversity, reflecting his vision to restore not just the Church but the very cloth of design. He constantly framed environmental management as a key component of Christian sanctification, insisting that the loss of nature is a grave social failing that proportionally harms the poor and vulnerable.
Laudato Si’: A Landmark Encyclical
In 2015, Pope Francis released Laudato si’, the second catholic apostolic dedicated wholly to the atmosphere. This groundbreaking report called for an “integral ecology, ” recognizing that the climate crisis is indistinguishable from issues of poverty, injustice, and social justice. He wrote, “We are faced no with two separate crises, one climate and the other sociable, but rather with one intricate problems which is both cultural and environmental”. Laudato si’ resonated far beyond the Christian world, earning compliment from world leaders and inspiring a boom in faith-based climate engagement.
Continue checking at https ://oursustainabilitymatters. com/tribute-to-pope-francis-the-environmental-pope/ for the whole content as DNA is transitioning our conservation policy to a solo news webpage.
A charity patron who ‘touched the lives of many’: Puan Noor Aishah’s life as the wife of Singapore’s first president
Mr Winston Choo, past aide-de-camp to Mr Yusof, said in CNA’s 2015 film: “Personally, she takes great anguish to see to the list, decide on the menu, and to truly manage also the preparing of the dessert. ”
He added: “ In all my life, even until now, I have never eaten otak melaka the way she prepared. ”
FIRST ASIAN PRESIDENT OF SINGAPORE GIRL GUIDES ASSOCIATION
As Singapore’s second woman, she took on a major role as patron or leader of many generous and open organisations.
She hosted sessions for security agencies, raising funds to help the weak, the handicapped and the aged. Using her own effort, she prepared foods like burgers, ondeh ondeh, and epok epok for tea events to bless donors.
In 1964, she received the Distinguished Service Medal for her “active and committed ” interest in social security work – from Mr Yusof himself.
She had a special affinity for companies working with people. Worried about the education of young girls, she agreed to be president and patron of the Singapore Girl Guides Association – as it was then known – in 1960.
Her characters to the federal helped the association receive a land contract for a new offices building in the 1960s.
In 1970, in glory of her decade-long services as the first Asian leader of the Singapore Girl Guides Association, Puan Noor Aishah was presented with the Laurel Leaf Award – its highest glory.
In 2000, the Puan Noor Aishah Awards was established to accept efforts of excellent Girl Guides.
“TOUCHED THE Life OF MANY”
Puan Noor Aishah proved to be an competent director who was balance many things at once, and even made her own clothing for activities.
“She’s always very, very prompt. She actually manages the time very well, ” said Mr Choo.
“She cooks but she knows that things must end at a certain time. She must give herself time to change dress up and to be on time for the next appointment, ” he added.
Puan Noor Aishah supported her husband in his official functions both in Singapore and abroad, drawing crowds wherever they appeared.
When Mr Yusof’s health deteriorated during his third term of office, she took his place to present medals for the 1968 National Day awards.
He eventually died of heart failure in 1970.
The following year, Puan Noor Aishah became the first Malay woman to receive an honorary doctorate – a Doctor of Letters degree from the National University of Singapore.
Mr Lee said at the book launch that it was a “daunting task ” for her to manage her large household while carrying out official and ceremonial duties.
“She even hired a teacher to teach her English so that she could communicate effectively with Singaporeans and foreign dignitaries, ” he noted.
“ But Puan Noor Aishah made all these appear effortless with her grace and poise, and she touched the lives of many with her quiet determination, humility and charm. ”
Puan Noor Aishah, wife of Singapore’s first President Yusof Ishak, dies aged 91
SINGAPORE : Puan Noor Aishah, the woman of Singapore’s first senator, Mr Yusof Ishak, has died. She was 91. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said that he was deeply saddened to hear of her passing in a Facebook post on Tuesday ( Apr 22 ). ” With joy and peacefulContinue Reading
Money Talks Podcast: Trump’s tariffs sent European stocks tumbling. Is it time to invest?
With a lot or more than half of Europe being exposed to that, we think that is interesting. Although it is bumpy, of course, because of the taxes and a lot of trade limitations from the US. But the architectural pattern is something that we like.
Andrea:
I need to toss a ball here because we cannot discount the fact that Mr Trump is going to put another large ball, correct? What happens if President Trump pulls another large walk? What did your advice to shareholders be next?
Fook Hien:
Yeah, it’s very hard to determine what he will do.
How much is too much food and why do takeaways always have so much carb?
“Carbohydrate products such as wheat, pasta, macaroni and potato are considered cheaper than meats and seafood, which may explain why food-stall masters and peddlers particularly are more generous with them, ” she said.
If you’re budget-conscious and opted for a value or set meal, you could also be busting your calorie intake, said Tung Yee Nei, the lead nutritionist from Ventrickle, a Singapore-based nutrition app and food calculator.
“Consumers tend to equate larger portions with getting more for their money, even if it leads to food waste or unhealthy eating habits, ” she said. So “food providers may aim to satisfy customers by offering portions that are larger than the standard size”.
HOW MUCH DO YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO EAT?
“Your actual caloric needs vary according to age, activity level and weight goals, ” said Diane Seto, a senior dietitian from Mount Elizabeth Hospital. Generally, the average daily caloric requirements are 2,200 calories for men and 1,800 calories for women. Based on those recommendations, a meal should n’t exceed 600 calories for men and 500 calories for women:
- Men: 500 to 600 calories per meal; 150 to 200 calories per snack
- Women: 400 to 500 calories per meal; 100 to 150 calories per snack
In reality, just how much extra food could you be eating? Take rice portions, for example, said Seto. That serving of rice could measure a full cup or 200g, instead of the recommended half cup or 100g, she said, citing the guidelines from My Healthy Plate.
If you finish up everything in your packet of nasi padang, for instance, you could be consuming more than 200 calories just from the rice alone. That is already half of a woman’s caloric limit in a meal.
Ministry defends Thai Pavilion costs
PUBLISHED: 22 Apr 2025 at 05 :47
The Ministry of Public Health has defended spending 900 million ringgit on setting up the Thailand Pavilion at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, saying the show has received little praise and criticism has been treated as constructive comments.
Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, permanent director of the Ministry of Public Health, on Monday led a press conference to define open debate over the worth of the 900-million-baht funds the government used to make the Thailand Pavilion exhibition at the World Expo in Osaka, running from April 13 until Oct 13.
According to him, the government this month assigned the Public Health Ministry to handle the company of the Thailand Pavilion, with a expenditure of 900 million ringgit.
The Thai show is featured under the Expo’s key style:” Designing Future Society for Our Life”, highlighting key health and well-being issues, including child vaccination, hygiene, nutrition, physical exercise, and longevity.
He said the government firmly adhered to budget paying regulations, and all documents pertaining to the site’s expenses are available on the agency’s website for public assessment.
The exhibition was aimed at showcasing Thailand’s strengths in health promotion to a global audience while supporting broader economic goals, such as Thai traditional massage, which is expected to generate hundreds of billions of baht through business matching, Dr Opas said.
The Thai Pavilion attracted an average of 10,000 visitors per day, he said, adding that academics had been assigned to assess its worth.
” As can be seen on social media platforms like TikTok and Facebook, many liked the exhibition and expressed their appreciation towards it, while others criticised it,” he said.
Some of the harshest words against the ministry’s work came from Unchalin Punnipa, president of TQM Alpha Plc and visitor to the fair, who on Facebook expressed doubts over whether the spending of more than 900 million baht had ever been examined carefully.
He said all his friends and acquaintances who visited the World Expo share the same view that the Thai Pavilion was more like a school exhibition than a world-class exhibit.
Senate panel pushes to raise quake aid
PUBLISHED: 22 Apr 2025 at 05 :42
A Senate committee on budget is looking to post a plan to improve compensation for sufferers of the March 28 disaster.
The commission, chaired by Senator Alongkot Worakee, on Monday held a meeting to discuss the payment method for those injured or deceased and those whose attributes were damaged.
Supakrit Boonkhan, deputy permanent secretary of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ( BMA ), reported that over 32,000 requests for support have been received.
But, he said just about 878 cases have been approved within the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation’s 30-day date so far due to the time-consuming essence of building checks.
Labour Ministry assistant continuous secretary, Samas Patamasukhon, said roughly 200 companies in 23 regions were affected by the aftershock. The decline of the new State Audit Office building in the Chatuchak city of Bangkok resulted in 47 confirmed incidents and eight injured people.
The commission raised fears about the small settlement amounts reported by collapse patients, with some receiving as little as 70 to 300 ringgit, barely enough to cover document costs.
Mr Alongkot said payment follows 2020 laws, capping bills at 49,500 ringgit per damaged house, irrespective of its market value.
” Victims can appeal if dissatisfied, and unresolved appeals may proceed through administrative courts,” the senator said.
Following the meeting, he announced the committee’s intention to request assistance from the Ministry of Interior and the Council of Engineers to deploy additional personnel to inspect damaged buildings in Bangkok, as current staff are insufficient.
Possibility of changes to cabinet ruled out
PUBLISHED: 22 Apr 2025 at 05:38
The decision Pheu Thai Party has dismissed the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle whenever quickly, saying the group is focused on the new resources costs for fiscal year 2026, which starts Oct 1.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has expressed a wish to continue working without making any cabinet changes for a long time, said Pheu Thai spokesmanDanuporn Punakantaon Monday.
Mr Danuporn was responding to speculations about the likelihood of the Bhumjaithai Party being axed from the government in a new government shake-up amid results from a Nida Poll public opinion poll.
The surveys showed that many people expected the business minister and the crops and cooperative minister to be replaced.
Mr Danuporn said Pheu Thai was now focusing on preparing for the House of Representatives ‘ consideration of the new resources bill, which was expected in a particular House treatment that would probably take place in late May.
During this legislative corner, MPs were visiting their districts in the regions to listen to their requirements and expectations from the president’s new administrative schedule, he said.
A meeting of these MPs may be called second for them to share what they had learned from their citizens, which could be treated as more insight into the government’s budget planning and investing strategy, he said.
Pheu Thai MPs would also need time in preparing to defend the funds expenses in the House, Mr Danuporn said.
The official said he was convinced that the budget bill may get overwhelming support from all alliance events, as the prime minister had in the recent during a vote of no confidence.
Somkid Chueakong, a deputy secretary-general to the PM, and Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, meanwhile, shrugged off the results of the Nida Poll’s survey, saying they were just some of a multitude of opinions.
Mr Phumtham said that a decision on a new cabinet reshuffle lies with the premier, adding that Bhumjaithai is a good coalition partner and that there is no reason to justify a reshuffle for the time being.
Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, in his capacity as a Bhumjaithai leader, said Ms Paetongtarn had never discussed any possible cabinet reshuffles with him. He said Bhumjaithai continues to support Pheu Thai as always.
Arms deals tied to US tariff talks
PUBLISHED: 22 Apr 2025 at 05 :14
NEWSPAPER SECTION: News
Whether Thailand buys more weaponry from the United States depends on the results of future trade deals with US officers, according to Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai.
A Thai group led by Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira is scheduled to discuss with US authorities on Wednesday over the 36 % mutual tariffs on Thai imports, although most jobs have been paused until July.
Mr Phumtham dismissed as doubtful that the US price measures may affect the atmosphere agency’s jet fighter procurement plan, after some suggested that Thailand may consider buying military technologies and weaponry from Washington.
Some have speculated that Thailand might change from Swedish-made Gripen to US-made F-16 fighter jet.
According to Mr Phumtham, one of the problems of buying F-16 jet is to get loans from the US to fund the program, which would be a somewhat innovative thing to do.
He said the state also has economic issues to consider and noted that the air agency’s planned sourcing of the Gripen jet has yet to be approved by the government.
Recently, former defence secretary Sutin Klungsang said the US proposed a 12-year 4. 5 % interest rate for the government to collect up to 16 warrior planes.
Mr Phumtham even declined to say when asked if other types of flights, such as transport plane, would be on the table, as the C-130 plane is ageing. He added that the military’s plan to secure Stryker armoured cars from the US is not yet finalised.