In Meam Commemorationem
6th October 2012
His Eminence The Most Reverend Lord Cardinal
Msgr. Odilo Pedro Scherer
Cardinal Priest of San Andrea al Quirinale
Archbishop of Sao Paolo
Interview
When
did you get the vocation to become a priest?
It happened in my childhood and in the family environment
which normally was a religious one. I always thought that priesthood was my
call.
Can
you tell us an anecdote from the time when Your Eminence was still at the
seminary?
I used to love studying languages, but I
was not that good in Chemistry.
The Cathedral dedicated to Christ the King, in Toledo, province of Parana
Do
you have any memory of your Episcopal ordination which you would like to share
with us?
I have a lot of memories. My Episcopal
ordination took place in the Cathedral of Christ the King, in the diocese of my
home town, Toledo,
in the state of Parana on the 2nd of February 2002. So it was the
celebration of the Lord’s Presentation. I was so happy that day!
How
did you receive the news that you were chosen to be a cardinal?
I was already the Archbishop of Sao
Paolo. The Apostolic Nuncio in Brazil had informed me of the choice which His
Holiness the Pope had just made. I was fifty-eight at that time, and the news
came in the fifth year of my episcopate.
Why
did you choose ‘In Meam Commemorationem’ as your Episcopal motto?
That was already my Episcopal ordination
motto. So to me this motto means the understanding of the gift of priesthood
and my mission as a Minister of Christ.
What
are the aims of the Catholic Church in South America?
They are many. But first and foremost it
is our aim to be close to our people and to spread among them the Good News of
Jesus Christ with renewed vigour and updated methods. On the other hand we need
to strengthen the Faith and religiosity in our people. All this requires more
vocations and better training of our lay people.
Is
it right to say that the priest is another Jesus Christ?
It is right to say that from the
sacrament aspect and for the service that the priest carries out in the name of
Jesus Christ. On the other hand, it cannot be said that the priest is another
Jesus Christ in the ontological sense. There was only one Christ, and above all
he was the Son of God.
Who
is the priest for today’s society?
He is a minister of Christ. A Man of
God, a witness to Christ and servant of humanity, in the name of Jesus Christ
and the Church.
What
is the meaning of ‘love
God with all your heart’?
It means that Man needs to put God at
the centre of his life; nothing is more
important than God. So the word ‘love’ means listening to God, adoring,
obeying, praising and trusting Him; laying one’s hopes and abandoning oneself
in His love.
Who are the workers of peace?
They are those
who deeply respect God, Man and all God’s work. Those who dedicate their life
in search of the truth and who live justice till the end. They are those who
promote the brotherhood between persons and nations.
If God is kind, why do evil and suffering exist?
This is always
an open question which requires a definite answer. Suffering is part of life’s
dynamics and of a process of growth and maturity. On the other hand, where
there is cruelty, there is also suffering! Freedom and suffering go hand in
hand together. If God allows suffering, it is because he allows our freedom.
However we are certain that God does not want suffering.
What is your opinion of the Pope’s appeal for a New
Evangelisation?
The appeal is
inspired and very appropriate. The evangelization is never taken for granted and completed.
The evangelization should be everlasting, in every generation, throughout life.
What happens during mass?
Mass is the rite
of the Sacrament of the Eucharist as well as the life of the Church. We
celebrate the memory of our redemption, we praise and adore God through Christ,
in the gift of the Holy Spirit and we receive the fruit of God’s grace.
What was the peak of Blessed Pope John Paul II’s
Pontificate?
It is
difficult to choose. Above all the Pope gave priority to spreading the Gospel to the people around
the world. He also put Man, dignity and our vocation at the centre of his
pontificate.
Your Eminence, what does Mary of Nazareth remind you of?
Since I was a
child, I learnt to love Our Lady in the family. It is so beautiful to think of
her as God’s Mother and the Mother of the Church. Thus wherever there are disciples of Christ, you will
find her. Where there is Jesus, there is Our Lady.
Thanks
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