Witness Over Power Defines Church Credibility Says Parolin
The credibility of the Church does not arise from power, influence, or numerical strength, but from lived faith that becomes visible through witness, Cardinal Pietro Parolin said during celebrations in Denmark marking the twelve hundredth anniversary of Saint Ansgar’s mission. Presiding at Mass in Copenhagen Cathedral as papal legate, the Vatican Secretary of State reflected on the relevance of Christian witness in a world marked by exclusion, indifference, and new forms of slavery. He recalled that Ansgar’s mission in ninth century northern Europe was rooted not in strategy or success but in fidelity to Christ, expressed through concrete acts of liberation and mercy. By redeeming the freedom of enslaved people and living the Gospel in hostile surroundings, the Benedictine monk offered a model of faith that speaks powerfully to the present age, where credibility is tested not by authority but by coherence between belief and action.
Reflecting on Ansgar’s personal journey, Cardinal Parolin emphasized that authentic mission flows from an inner experience of forgiveness and freedom. Drawing from Scripture, he noted that the messenger matters as much as the message, since the Gospel is carried not through words alone but through lives transformed by grace. Ansgar’s courage in leaving familiar surroundings to follow Christ, first from France to Germany and then to Denmark, revealed a trust that inspired others even amid apparent failure. His perseverance in the face of resistance showed that Christian mission is not measured by immediate results but by faithfulness. In a culture that prizes success and visibility, the Cardinal said, Ansgar embodied a paradox where apparent weakness became strength through love given without reserve, allowing hearts to be changed quietly yet enduringly.
Turning to the present, Cardinal Parolin observed that Denmark’s history remains deeply shaped by its Christian roots, even as believers live within a pluralistic society. The Catholic community, alongside other Christian traditions and people of goodwill, continues to contribute through service, solidarity, and respect for human dignity. Recalling the vision of Saint Ansgar, he urged renewed evangelical courage grounded in humility rather than dominance. Citing the teaching and witness of Pope Leo XIV, the Cardinal said the health of the Church is revealed not by growth statistics but by its closeness to Christ and its capacity to accompany humanity in fragile circumstances. True fruitfulness, he concluded, flows from trust in God’s action and from hearts transformed by love.
