A leading Church official in Japan warned that war, violence, and a culture of “superficial words” are eroding hope, urging Christians to speak with conviction and defend the dignity of life as they mark Easter.
In his Easter Sunday homily on April 5 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Cardinal Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo said the resurrection calls believers to a renewed witness grounded not in empty rhetoric but in lived faith and moral clarity.
“We live in an age where superficial words fly around, not only online but also in the real world,” the cardinal said. “Words are thrown into the digital world reflexively, without deep thought, without exploring their background, and without considering the feelings behind them.”
The prelate said such expressions often lack conviction and quickly fade, contrasting them with words rooted in belief that “pierce the hearts of many people like a ray of light shining in the darkness, and evoke a great response.”
Drawing from the Gospel account of Peter, Kikuchi pointed to the apostle’s transformation from denial to bold witness as a model for Christians today.
“Words backed by deep thought and real-world experience have power,” he said, noting that Peter’s testimony carried weight because it was grounded in his encounter with the risen Christ.
“As those who have been called to the same faith, we too want to be speakers who speak with firm conviction,” the cardinal added.
Kikuchi placed his message against the backdrop of ongoing global conflicts and threats to human life, citing violence in Myanmar, wars in Ukraine and the Holy Land, and tensions in the Middle East.
“Violence against life, a gift from God, breeds despair and robs people of the hope of living,” he said.
He also pointed to the displacement of Christian communities, noting that “in various parts of the Middle East, minority Christians are migrating to other regions to escape the violent situations and seek safety.”
The cardinal urged the faithful to uphold human dignity and protect life, saying believers are called “to protect the life that has been given to us as a gift, and to uphold the dignity of humanity as beings made in the image of God.”
Despite the crises, Kikuchi said the resurrection remains the foundation of Christian hope.
“The resurrection of the Lord Jesus is the beginning of a new life after suffering the pain of Passion and death,” he said, describing it as “a celebration of the hope of living life.”
He also stressed the communal nature of faith, saying “faith is not something to be lived secretly alone, but something to be lived within the church community, together with fellow believers who pray and support one another.”
“Let us… powerfully bear witness to the Gospel, based on our firm faith in the Father, the giver of life,” he said, urging that the words “We are all witnesses, are not empty words.”
