The newly dedicated Cardinal of Bangkok, Thailand has no nice words for secularism as he begins his new ministry.
Cardinal Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij considers secularism as the biggest challenge facing the church today, and it is the Devil's new guise.
"Secularism is the new way the Devil presents himself in the modern world," Cardinal Kriengsak told the Catholic News Agency. He said the Devil is attempting to present himself through attractive forms in order to deceive people who are used to the more common grotesque depictions of the Devil.
"It seems to people that secularism is a nice Devil, not a terrible one," the new cardinal warned.
Cardinal Kriengsak is one of the three new cardinals in Asia that were created by the Vatican during a consistory held on February 14. The other two cardinals are Archbishop Pierre Nguyen Van Nhon of Hanoi, Vietnam and Archbishop Charles Bo of Yangon. The consistory created a total of 20 new cardinals, 15 of which are under 80 and are able to vote in a papal conclave. Cardinal Kriengsak is also one of those 15 new cardinals with voting rights.
While the modern world has introduced changes that he considers "good," Cardinal Kriengsak cautioned people that the public is too easily following what he called the "wave of secularism," not just in Asia, but all around the world.
"It is not just a challenge for the Asian Churches ... all the world is facing the challenge of secularism," he observed.
While secularism is indeed making waves around the world, Cardinal Kriengsak expressed optimism and agreed with Pope Francis when he said that Asia is still "a continent of God." He said that this is the "moment" for Asians to show their faith amidst the popularity of secularism.
Addressing the attendees of the 6th Asian Youth Day in South Korea in August 2014, Pope Francis had referred to Asia with its "rich philosophical and religious traditions," as a "great frontier" for Christianity.
