Society
Of The Divine Word

The solemn celebration coincided with the parish’s Patronal Festival and drew numerous faithful from Japan as well as the local Roman community, reflecting the universal missionary spirit of the Church.

Second Cardinal in the History of the SVD
Cardinal Kikuchi was created cardinal by Pope Francis in 2024, becoming the second member of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) to be elevated to the College of Cardinals, following Cardinal Thomas Tien Ken-sin, SVD, the Archbishop of Beijing, who was made a cardinal in 1946 and was the first cardinal from China.

He is also the first Japanese SVD and the first Archbishop of Tokyo in more than two decades to receive this honor.

As Cardinal Presbyter of the Parish of San Giovanni Leonardi, Cardinal Kikuchi participated in the ancient rite of “taking possession”, a tradition through which new cardinals are assigned to a titular church in Rome.

This symbolizes their bond with the Diocese of Rome and their collaboration with the Pope in governing the Universal Church.

The ceremony began at 6:00 p.m. with a formal welcome, followed by a Eucharistic celebration at 6:30 p.m. on the Solemnity of St. Giovanni Leonardi, founder of the Clerics Regular of the Mother of God.

The parish community joined hundreds of Japanese pilgrims in a vibrant liturgy filled with songs, gratitude, and missionary joy.

Missionary Vision: From Japan to the World
In his homily, Cardinal Kikuchi reflected on the missionary mandate of Christ, quoting Mark 16:15: “Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel.”
He recalled how this command inspired St. Francis Xavier to travel to Japan in 1549, beginning the evangelization of the country in the face of great hardship.

“Almost 500 years have passed since then. The Church in Japan was born with Francis Xavier; the seed was sown by missionaries and grew through the blood of martyrs. Therefore, the Church in Japan is also a Church that offers gratitude to missionaries and martyrs, our predecessors in the faith,” the Cardinal said.

Cardinal Kikuchi emphasized that evangelization in Japan remains challenging, with Catholics forming a small minority, particularly in rural areas. Yet, he affirmed, “Evangelization is not the work of human beings but the work of God. Since He desires the salvation of all, we believe that He will surely open the way.”

SVD Missionary Identity in a Synodal Church
Linking his message to the Holy Year 2025 theme, “Pilgrims of Hope,” Cardinal Kikuchi highlighted the growing presence of international communities in Japanese parishes—faithful from the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Brazil, Africa, and beyond—who now play a vital missionary role in their adopted homeland.

“All the faithful living in Japan for personal reasons are, in reality, missionaries sent by God. A Church that walks synodally is enriched through the encounter among diverse people and becomes a missionary Church,” he said.

For the SVD family, Cardinal Kikuchi’s installation as a titular cardinal is a moment of pride, gratitude, and missionary renewal. His journey—from his early formation in the Society, to missionary work in Ghana, episcopal ministry in Niigata and Tokyo, and leadership in Caritas Internationalis—embodies the SVD charism of witnessing to the Word across cultures.

His taking possession of the Titular Church in Rome further strengthens the presence of the Society of the Divine Word at the heart of the Catholic Church, reminding all SVD members of their universal mission to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth.