Cardinal Isao Kikuchi warned that mass enthusiasm, when shaped by unchecked desires, can quickly turn destructive, pointing to the Gospel account of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and its stark reversal days later.
In his weekly reflection, the archbishop of Tokyo said the same crowd that welcomed Jesus with fervor soon called for his death, stressing that “the crowds that welcomed Jesus with such enthusiasm transformed a few days later into a crowd demanding that he be crucified and killed,” adding that “enthusiasm is fleeting.”
He said the crowd’s expectations of a political liberator clouded their understanding of Jesus’ mission, with “their hearts… dominated by their own selfish desires,” leaving them unable to recognize the deeper meaning of Christ’s humility.
Kikuchi drew a parallel with contemporary society, warning that the rapid spread of information can generate similar waves of collective emotion.
He said that “the spread of information via the internet sometimes possesses the power to engulf the world with the same kind of frenzy that captivated the crowds welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem,” a dynamic that can lead people toward “simplified judgments” that distort reality.
Such “frenzy,” he said, does not only obscure truth but can also erase recognition of human dignity, as “the eyes of our minds, dominated by these images, become blind to the existence of real human beings—beings loved by God who live the gift of life.”
Kikuchi warned that unchecked fervor can escalate into harm, noting that “sometimes, fervor can generate violent, negative forces,” and that “the violence that fervor produces can turn against our very lives.”
He urged the faithful to resist emotionally driven reactions and instead seek clarity through reflection, saying, “What we need is to distance ourselves from the fervor born of our own desires, calm our minds, and look for signs of the times in reality.”
The archbishop also echoed a Lenten appeal from Pope Francis, who called for greater restraint in speech and a shift in how people communicate.
“Let us refrain from using words that attack and hurt our neighbors,” the pope said, urging the faithful to “replace words of hatred with words of hope and peace.”
