The meeting of Asian bishops in Manila ended on Sunday with church leaders calling for a more meaningful and reflective Eucharistic celebration and inculcating in the faithful the significance of “devout listening” to the Word of God.

Some 120 leaders of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) had gathered at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Paco, Manila since Tuesday for a meeting that centered on the theme, “Living the Eucharist in Asia.”

The meeting was attended by prominent figures of the Catholic Church in Asia and of the Vatican.

Pope Benedict XVI was represented by Francisco Cardinal Arinze, the current Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

Archbishops Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales of Manila and Ricardo Cardinal Vidal of Cebu attended the meeting.

Joseph Cardinal Zen, who retired only last April, represented the Hong Kong Catholic church. He is known as an advocate of democracy and religious freedom in China.

Aside from Indian Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, Oswald Gracias of India and John Baptist Cardinal Phan Min Manh of Vietnam also came.

In the meeting, Church leaders emphasized that regular listening to the Word of God especially in the homes will certainly “bear fruits of renewal” and will produce a “culture of listening” to the Word in the parishes and communities.

They, however, said the clergy must strive to bring the Scripture closer to the hearts of every Catholic and that liturgical rites must result in a transformation of the faithful.

"In a continent where Christianity is a very small minority, the celebration of the Eucharist is the most effective missionary act that the Ecclesial community can perform for its flocks," the bishops said.
 
“We remind all those who are entrusted with the ministry of animating the Eucharistic communities, especially priests, that they have a great responsibility to make the Eucharist a transforming event, by adequate preparation, and effective celebration, and in particular by relevant and nourishing homilies,” the Asian prelates said.

“To celebrate the Eucharist is to live in faith, a faith planted, nurtured and nourished by the Word. It demands that we become contemplative and ponderers of the Word,” they added.

In an interview over church-run Radio Veritas, Cardinal Toppo noted that the Philippines is the only Catholic country in Asia, urging that Filipinos must share the faith.

"Be grateful to God because this is the only Catholic country in Asia. What a privilege, so keep the faith that you have received, it is something to be proud of … and that faith must not only be preserved but must be shared, " he said.