During his first visit to the international headquarters of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) since being made president, Cardinal Koch highlighted the importance of the charity’s defence of religious freedom and its ecumenical dimension. (Photo: In the center, Cardinal Koch with employees of ACN International last February 3rd).
Cardinal Kurt Koch, recently named president of the pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), visited the charity’s headquarters in Königstein, Germany on Tuesday, February 3, and met with staff for an informal conversation.
The Swiss Cardinal, who is head of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, spoke about his previous experience working with ACN in his home country, and encouraged all those present to continue helping Christians in need, not only materially, but also spiritually.
“We are called to help these people. As far as we can, monetarily, but the most important thing is that we think of them and that we pray for them. Again and again, I experience that people in need say to me: ‘It is important that you do not leave us alone. Think of us, pray for us.’ And if we can also support them financially, then that is good too,” he said.
“We have the great joy of having received the great message of Jesus Christ, and also of passing this message on, that people may live in joy. Many people, however, are in difficulty, in great affliction, and in great need, and it is our task to help them. On the one hand, by supporting them materially, and on the other hand, by offering them the great gift of faith, of the Gospel.”
“Pope Benedict once said: Whoever does not give people God, even if he offers them so much else, is giving them too little. Let us therefore give people the most important, the most beautiful, the greatest thing: the experience of God’s presence, as He revealed Himself in Jesus Christ,” Cardinal Koch added.
Regarding current challenges, the president of ACN highlighted difficulties in Africa and Asia, but also the importance of new evangelization in the west. “Religious freedom is a very important issue in different countries, different religions, and also social situations. This is a very big challenge, and I’m very happy that you are also very engaged in this situation and help raise awareness. Here in the West, we need, in the first instance, a clear evangelization, a new evangelization, because faith is very weak in some of our regions.”
During his conversation with ACN staff, the Cardinal pointed out the similarities between the dicastery he heads and the organization’s mission, since both have an important ecumenical and social dimension, dealing directly with the various expressions of Christianity around the world.
“We have many, many differences, a great plurality, but we need a common spirit. Without this common spirit, we cannot overcome our conflicts and our wars. And in this sense, as said by the Second Vatican Council, the Church is a sign and instrument for the unity of humanity and its relationship with God. And only when the Church, despite differences, is united, can it be a sign and instrument for society, for the world.”
Cardinal Koch explained how his own experience of contact with other Churches had strengthened his love for Catholicism. “There is an expression: what do they know of England who only England know? What it means is that we know England only when we also know France, Germany, and Spain. I learned more about the beauty of the Catholic Church and the Petrine office through my dialogue with others.”
Finally, Cardinal Kurt Koch thanked all ACN staff members for their service to the universal Church, saying, “It is a great pleasure for me to be the president of this beautiful organization.”
