- 25 July, 2026
JAKARTA, July 25, 2026 — Church leadership must be rooted in service, humility and self-giving love rather than authority or status, Cardinal Anthony Poola of Hyderabad told bishops attending the 12th Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC).
Preaching at the Eucharistic celebration for the Feast of St. James the Apostle on July 25, the President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India reflected on the Gospel account of the mother of James and John asking Jesus to grant her sons places of honour in his Kingdom.
Cardinal Poola acknowledged that the desire for recognition, security and influence is deeply human but said Jesus redirects his disciples towards a radically different understanding of leadership.
"The apostolic office is not a seat to occupy but a cup to receive. It is not first about a visible position, but about participating in Christ's self-offering," he said.
Referring to Jesus' question, "Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?", the cardinal said authentic Church leadership cannot be separated from sacrifice and service.
Quoting Christ's teaching that "whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant", Cardinal Poola said episcopal authority becomes truly evangelical only when exercised in humility.
Drawing on the teaching of Pope Francis that authority is fundamentally a form of service, he said bishops are called to remain close to God's people rather than merely administer Church institutions. Referring to Evangelii Gaudium, he said the Church is called to go forth, accompany people, bear fruit and rejoice in proclaiming the Gospel.
"For the Church in Asia, leadership is not supervision from a distance but missionary closeness; not self-centred administration but pastoral conversion," he said.
Cardinal Poola warned against the temptation to seek status, preserve positions or measure success by influence. Instead, he urged the bishops to look to Christ, "who came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many."
He said the message has particular relevance for the Churches of Asia, where Catholics often live as small minorities amid religious and cultural diversity and face challenges including poverty, migration, economic inequality, political conflict, environmental degradation and growing concerns among young people.
"The Church cannot proclaim Christ through power," he said, "but through humble service, sincere dialogue, courageous witness, and compassionate presence."
Reflecting on St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians, Cardinal Poola described bishops as "earthen vessels" entrusted with the priceless treasure of the Gospel.
"A bishop is not called to pretend that he is not an earthen vessel. Rather, he is called to let the treasure shine through his own fragility," he said.
Human weakness, he explained, can become the place where God's grace is revealed. The ministry of a bishop, he added, ultimately depends not on personal strength but on the power of God.
Cardinal Poola also connected his reflection with the Church's synodal journey, describing synodality as a continual process of conversion that enables the Church to listen more attentively to the Holy Spirit and walk faithfully with the People of God.
He called on the bishops to renew their Gospel witness by sharing the sufferings of the poor and marginalised, proclaiming the Gospel with humility and becoming bridge-builders through dialogue with cultures, other religions and people living on the margins.
"We are not called to sit at the right or left of power," Cardinal Poola said. "We are called to walk the path of the Servant. We are not called to protect the earthen vessel, but to reveal the treasure within it. We are not called to build towers, but to build bridges."
By Catholic Connect Reporter
Read More from the FABC 2026 Plenary Assembly:
Cardinal Tagle: Synodality Begins by Learning How to Walk Together
Cardinal Gracias Urges Asian Church to Become ‘Bridge Builders’ for Peace
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