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The rise of political Islam in the West is best addressed by Christians extricating themselves from secular values and turning to take “courageous and deeply spiritual steps” toward renewal of faith in God and the values of the Gospel, says Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, archbishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
During an interview, published November 6, with French media Tribune Chrétienne, the cardinal observes (translation via Duckduckgo Translate) that “with the spread of secularism, Western societies gradually became de-Christianized.”
“This process was also accelerated by a theological revolution that swept away the solid pillars of Catholic theology,” he asserts. “The forms of worship, the moral principles and the hierarchical structure that characterized the Church before the war were considerably weakened.”
The interview – which focused on the secularization of Europe and the rapid spread of radical Islam on that continent – was first brought to light by Edward Pentin, National Catholic Register senior contributor and EWTN News Vatican Analyst.
Ranjith, as Pentin reported Tuesday, “grew to prominence during Pope St. John Paul II’s pontificate” and “has served in a variety of important roles, including apostolic nuncio to Indonesia and East Timor.”
“Pope Benedict XVI appointed him secretary to the then Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in 2005, before nominating him archbishop of Colombo in 2009,” Pentin noted, citing as well a 2023 U.S. Department of State report showing Sri Lanka with a population that is 70.2% Buddhist, 12.6% Hindu, 9.7% Muslim, and 7.4% Christian (80% Catholic).
As Tribune Chrétienne observed, Ranjith is “particularly known for his attachment to liturgical tradition, doctrinal fidelity and the defense of Christian communities.”
The cardinal tells the French publicationthat Christians’ gradual embrace of secularism since World War II has led to the rise of “individualism, hedonism and minimalism,” and to a “loss of value of human life and its nobility.”
Ranjith says that, having had “close ties with Europe for almost fifty years,” he has beheld “a process of rapid and tragic de-Christianization of this continent that I love deeply.”
He shares that, as a seminarian in the 1970s, he saw Catholic churches in German cities full of “the faithful.”
“The pews were occupied by entire families singing with strength and enthusiasm and answering prayers,” he describes. “It was a lively and joyful experience for everyone.”
Now, however, he observes the pews in that country are mostly empty, with participation in the liturgy seemingly “devoid of life,” and with few young people in attendance.
“Unfortunately,” the cardinal laments, the Church’s response to the decline in the culture has been to desert “its own spiritual and liturgical heritage in the belief that it was enough simply to go with the flow.”
Ranjith notes, nevertheless, that Pope Leo XIV’s recent visits to the secularist countries of France and Spain were met by “the joyful and fervent participation of hundreds of thousands of young people.”
“They made it clear to the world that they have a profound desire to change the way Europe looks at religion, and especially Christianity,” he says. “They have unambiguously expressed their desire to see a more humane, spiritual and genuinely transformed world emerge, in which religious values give meaning to their existence.”
While the enthusiasm of young people in France and Spain is encouraging, Ranjith says it is not surprising that radical Islam has anchored itself in some European nations.
“Christian societies are gradually declining because they absorb secular values and make political choices based on them,” he adds, noting that other religions on the continent, such as Islam, “do not have the same fascination with secularism.”
“Secularized society is dualistic, because it considers that a person can adhere to a religion without being required to put into practice, in the public sphere, the values that derive from it,” he says, observing this “dichotomy” undermines Christians because it “forces the individual to act against his or her innermost conscience,” and, ultimately, “lead a double life.”
Asked by Tribune Chrétienne about whether Europe, following its “serious demographic crisis,” accompanied by “extremism … rearing its head,” can survive its current situation, Ranjith says it is possible.
“But it must carry out a serious examination of conscience in the light of its history, its philosophical and spiritual roots, and adopt a more lucid attitude towards what has happened,” he asserts.
But the reality, the cardinal says, is that “Europe is no longer Christian,” and the Church must now lead a “process of reflection” that acknowledges the “current situation” cannot simply continue as is and result in improvement.
Urging “a new spiritual, theological and pastoral approach,” Ranjith says what is essential is “to take courageous and deeply spiritual steps to renew faith in God and in Jesus, our Savior, and to return to the true values of the Gospel, as the Lord himself asks us to do.”
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