Cardinal Goh: Leo XIV will put clarity back into Doctrine -- and enough with persecution of those who prefer the Traditional Mass

Rorate Caeli ^ | May 22, 2025 | Cardinal Goh

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Cardinal Goh: Leo XIV will put clarity back into Doctrine -- and enough with persecution of those who prefer the Traditional Mass

 From an interview granted by Cardinal Goh, Archbishop of Singapore, to Bussola Quotidiana:

Your Eminence, do you think you cardinals elected the right man?

 

Yes, I think Leo XIV is exactly the pope the world needs at this time. Francis strengthened the missionary dimension of the Church, trying to bring the Gospel to all of humanity, including sinners, the marginalized, the vulnerable. But I think the least pleasant aspect of his pontificate has been that, in his attempt to reach everyone, in terms of doctrine and morality the teachings were not properly explained, or, rather, appeared ambiguous.

Has this circumstance resulted in the polarizations that have swept through the Church in recent years?

 

If we are not clear what the teaching of the Church is, then it is very difficult to work together in unity. Although, in the Church, both those so-called “leftists” and “rightists” are interested in promoting the mission of evangelization, there has been an internal division on certain issues such as marriage, LGBTQ, transgender. These are the areas that divided the church because at a certain point you weren't too sure what was the right thing to do anymore. There were people who came to church and said, “but the Pope said this.” But being truly inclusive means saying, "Yes, we understand that you are struggling. You are not able to live the gospel. We will help you, we will walk with you. It may take some time. We will help you fall in love with Jesus slowly. One day, perhaps, you will be able to come to understand." This is an important distinction.

Do you think Leo XIV will be able to bring order to the divisions over doctrine?

 

Yes, being an Augustinian he has a solid foundation in the tradition and spirituality of St. Augustine. On the other hand, he has worked in Peru and knows firsthand situations of poverty and suffering. Moreover, he has been in Rome for several years and therefore knows what the challenges of the Curia are. Moreover, having been prior general of his order, he has already demonstrated governance skills. In these early outings, he has been sober and careful about what to say and what to do. He seems to me to be a man who is aware that when a pope makes certain comments, those comments are taken seriously and that is why he uses caution and prudence. That is to be appreciated because that way people don't get confused. So I think he will be able to bring greater clarity on doctrine so that the “left” and the “right” don't argue with each other. He won't be ambiguous and he won't leave the interpretation of what he says up to each person.

Speaking of which, you will know that these have not been easy years for the faithful who love the so-called Tridentine Mass. What will become of them in the new pontificate?

 

I personally believe that there is no reason to stop those people who prefer the Tridentine Mass. They are not doing anything wrong or sinful. Of course the unity of the Church should be preserved, but on the other hand we even have different rites like the Syro-Malabar rites. We can very well accept different ways of celebrating the Eucharist, and so I think we should not stifle those who prefer the Tridentine rite. At the end of the day, it is not the rite or the form in which one celebrates that matters, but whether one encounters God in depth.

What is your experience with communities that love the ancient liturgy in your diocese?

 

I personally do not celebrate the Tridentine Mass, but I am not against those who do. In my country we have a small group of about 300 people and they are mostly young people, often professionals. Sometimes I ask them, “Why do you prefer this celebration?” They answer me that they feel it is more reflective, contemplative, and they find it brings them closer to God. Why should I stop them? Of course, if they deny the teachings of the Second Vatican Council that is another story and then they should be disciplined. But they don't, so I think we should not discriminate against these people. After all, it was the Mass celebrated for hundreds and hundreds of years, right?

In Asia, persecution of Christians is present, and indeed growing. What is the situation of religious freedom in your continent?

 

Persecution is not the same in all nations. Some are very subtle, others make life really difficult. But I think it all depends on the country. In Singapore, thank God, we don't have these problems. So religious freedom depends, again, on the government. The problem arises when religion and politics mix. In my country we have a clear line of demarcation. Our church doesn't interfere in government, doesn't favor a particular political party, but just talks about moral and social issues. Elsewhere in Asia, where there is a state religion, whether Muslim or Hindu, the religious freedom situation becomes difficult because politicians want to defend a particular religion to get votes. And of course religion will also use politics to gain power.

What are the urgent issues that will face the somewhat Peruvian American Leo XIV as far as Asia is concerned?

 

Leo XIV already has the perspective and experience of what it means to reach out to a world that is different from his home world. Particularly those poor and marginalized areas that are very present in Asia. The difference with Latin America is that in Asia Christianity is often a minority, however, Catholic communities are very vibrant, just as in Africa. Latin America on the other hand is struggling against the habit of what we might call a routine faith and also against the incursions of sects. Here in Asia there are no such problems but, being a minority, Leo XIV will have to pay attention to how our Church will dialogue and interact with other religions.

Aren't you a little disappointed that the Pope is not Asian?

 

No, I don't care if the Pope is Asian or European or any nationality. I don't vote by continent or culture. I want to vote for a pope who is truly inspired by the Holy Spirit. An inspiration that can unite the world and walk in truth and love. And I believe Leo XIV is the right man.

[Source, in Italian] 

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TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Theology
KEYWORDS: antichristiankaren; popebob; williamgoh

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Ping

[irishjuggler]

I looked it up... Bergoglio made Goh a cardinal in 2022. A funny thing happened on the way to Bergoglio packing the Cpllege of Cardinals... He ended up appointing a lot of the men from “the peripheries” in Asia and Africa who didn’t necessarily agree with him on everything.