Image: Reuters Berita 24 English - Pope Francis's trip to Kazakhstan came to an end on Thursday. At the same time, one of his most vocal...
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| Image: Reuters |
Francis led a meeting of bishops, priests, and nuns in the Kazakh capital's cathedral on the last day of his three-day trip.
A local bishop named Athanasius Schneider was there. He is a staunch conservative who has criticised the progressive pope on a wide range of issues.
The main reason for the pope's trip was to speak at the Seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. This is a meeting where people from many different, mostly smaller faiths come together.
Schneider, who is 61 years old, praised the congress for being able to "promote mutual respect in the world," but he also said that he thought it "risked" putting Catholicism on the same level as other religions.
Schneider told reporters at the cathedral, "It could look like a supermarket of religions, which is wrong because there is only one true religion, the Catholic Church, which was started by God himself."
Schneider and other conservatives have criticised some parts of the Second Vatican Council, which took place from 1962 to 1965 and called for dialogue with people of other religions.
They also say that Catholics should actively try to convert others to their religion. They disagree with Francis's insistence that potential converts should only be drawn to the faith by the way Christians live.
Schneider, who speaks perfect English and is well-known around the world for his frequent appearances on conservative Catholic media, said that the Vatican should rethink its presence at such congresses. He said that people should talk to each other in their own communities.
He also defended his right to criticise the pope in public, saying that it was his duty as a brother and was good for the Church as a whole.
"We are brothers, not workers for the pope or the bishops. When I feel that something isn't right or isn't clear, I have to tell him, with respect and brotherly love "Schneider said.
He said that bishops who disagreed with the pope should be honest and not get caught up in "adulations and incense" or "act like an employee to a boss."
Francis gave a final speech to the congress before leaving for Rome. He said that the COVID-19 pandemic had already changed the world, but that the "utter folly of war" had made things even worse.
Francis told the group on Wednesday that God doesn't lead religions to war. This was an indirect criticism of Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, who supports the invasion of Ukraine and didn't go to the congress.
The Russian Orthodox Church sent a group led by Patriarch Anthony, who is number two in the church.
Most of the people at the congress agreed on the final statement, which said that "any military conflict" should not be started, but did not mention the Ukraine war by name.
About 70% of Kazakhs are Muslim, and about 26% are Orthodox Christians. Out of the 19 million people who live in the large Central Asian country, only about 125,000 are Catholic.
