Bernardo Cervellera

Sister Teresina Cheng was invited as an auditor. From her work experience in an office she decided to dedicate her life to the youth of China, marked by loneliness, distance of parents, by worries for the future. "For young Chinese the term 'faith' is abstract ... their most real and beautiful desires are almost buried in their hearts".

For the optimists the provisional agreement is "historic"; for the pessimists it is the beginning of the total sell out of the Church to the Party. The Pope is involved in naming bishops. But we know nothing of a right of veto. The lifting of excommunications is good, but the faithful expect a public request for forgiveness. China has not asked for a break with Taiwan as a prior condition. Praise for Lithuanian martyrs, amid silence on the Chinese ones.

According to the Wall Street Journal the "historic agreement" will be signed by the end of September. But announcements of this type have been happening for years. The Pope and the Vatican are ready, but China is divided: it favors the foreign ministry; against the United Front and the Patriotic Association which continue unperturbed to persecute the Church and religions. The silence of Beijing and Xi Jinping.

As of yesterday there are "New measures" for the control of online religious activities. Live streaming of religious ceremonies banned, as well as prayers, preaching and burning of incense. Permission required to set up religious websites that must be 'morally healthy and politically reliable'. Conversions banned as well as the dissemination of religious material. But the religious awakening in China is now unstoppable.

Only the Chinese Communist Party knows what "sincization" means. The five-year plan prepared by the Patriotic Association and the Council of Bishops serves to destroy the values ​​present in religions. Submission creates fear and drives people away from religions.

By the end of August, all the dioceses of China have to present a five-year plan (2018-2022) to the National Patriotic Association (PA) and the Council of Bishops (BCCCC) on how they can implement the syncization, commissioned by Xi Jinping. The National Five-Year Plan augments the physical control over members of the Church (bishops, priests, laity), also control over culture, theology, social doctrine, art, architecture, liturgy. A political and non-religious document: Jesus Christ is mentioned only once; the Patriotic Association is mentioned 15 times.

The ad limina visit of the two territories has not been held for 10 years. Yesterday bishops met with Secretary of State Card. Pietro Parolin. The need to continue dialogue with China, despite issues about which "we do not agree". Praying for the Pope, the Church in China and "for all those who have sacrificed their lives for their faith". The impatience of young people, frustrated by the lack of perspectives and freedom.

In the Instrumentum Laboris published today, young people are "seekers of meaning", but also suffer from "volubility of impulsiveness". The Church struggles to understand them. The "mutual estrangement" between generations can be overcome with the discovery that we are all "called" to life, and an "ecological conversion": the discovery of relationships with the history and environment that make up each person. An "outgoing" Church, close to the religious outbursts of young people, able to propose the person of Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of every road taken. Mission and friendship.

A study by the Pew Research Center shows that in almost all countries there are differences between young people and older people regarding the importance given to religion; belonging to a group and daily prayer. The influence of economic development, of education, of danger, of age. The cases of Muslim countries, South Korea and Japan. But even with secularization, the world is becoming more religious.

He was 94 years old. He was bishop of Qingdao since 2000, with the Holy See approval. But according to several people, he was too subjugated to the Patriotic Association and to Antonio Liu Bainian, president of the organization and originally from Shandong. The diocese is silent on the period from 1953 to 1978. It is probable that the bishop was dragged to prison or forced labor camps during the Maoist period and the Cultural Revolution.

Italy’s demographic situation is grim. Its population shrunk by 3.2 per cent in a year. Those over 65 are now 22.3 per cent. China too has 158.31 million people over 65 (11.4 per cent). Aging undermines the workforce and pushes up social costs, undermining innovation, creativity, consumption, perspectives and hope. Beijing is thinking of removing all limits to the number of children. Demographers suggest a 10,000-yuan annual bonus for each new born. The goal is to avoid stagnation.

The Bishop of Daejeon says economic and strategic interests involving Japan, Russia, the US and China tend to keep the peninsula divided, but the Korean people want peace. Kim Jong-un's requests: insurances for his safety; aid to the people of the North. Moon has managed to win everyone's trust. For the South Koreans this opening and dialogue was unexpected, perhaps dreamed of. Prepare to evangelize the North.