Card. Joseph Zen

The emeritus bishop of Hong Kong doubts the "profound harmony" between the Popes and asks to see evidence of Benedict XVI's having signed the provisional agreement with China. The Secretariat of State has "been fooled" into believing that the "independent church" which Beijing demands bishops and priests to join, is different from that of the past.

The considerations of the bishop emeritus of Hong Kong on claims made by recent articles regarding the agreement between Beijing and the Holy See.

Reconciliation between official and underground communities may be difficult, but it is possible. The Chinese state aims to build a national and schismatic Church. The Vatican’s veneration of Ostpolitik risks helping Beijing "enslave the Church". The manipulation of the words of Benedict XVI and obedience to Pope Francis.

The bishop emeritus of Hong Kong comments on some statements and publications of the past few days, after the declaration of the Vatican press office on the "presumed difference of thought and action between the Holy Father and his collaborators in the Roman Curia on issues relating to China". The accusation of Card. Zen: the Letter of Benedict XVI to Chinese Catholics is only partially quoted. Comfort to the faithful of the underground communities forced "to enter the lion’s cage".

The bishop emeritus of Hong Kong confirms the information published in recent days by AsiaNews and reveals details of his conversation with Pope Francis on these topics: "Do not create another Mindszenty case", the primate of Hungary whom the Vatican forced to leave the country, appointing a successor in Budapest, at the will of the communist government of the time.

Benedict XVI has made important gestures towards China and its Church. But even now the Beijing government demands ultimate power over faithful and bishops. The Vatican dicasteries, overly concerned with compromise, failed to sufficiently support the pope’s line of courage, truth and openness. The Party in danger of collapse due to widespread corruption. The Church in China is rescued by the many faithful, willing to accept suffering, but unwilling to abandon the faith. The new pope has to start from Pope Benedict XVI’s Letter to Chinese Catholics. Card. Zen is traveling to Italy. February 27 next he will be at the last general audience of Pope Benedict XVI.

By removing the title of Bishop of Shanghai from Msgr. Ma Daqin, "opportunist" bishops have obeyed Patriotic Association leaders who fear loosing control of the Church. But in doing so they are slinging mud on the new leadership in Beijing. The Vatican too slow to judge these bishops as "schismatic".

Misinterpretations of the Letter have led to confusion and distress in the underground community. The official bishops must have more courage in their faithfulness to the pope, refusing structures that are contrary to the Catholic faith. The Chinese government continues its usual policy: total control of the Church.

Donald Tsang’s administration comes in for criticism for its inability to meet the democratic and economic needs of the population. The bishop praises the “faraway emperor” (mainland China) for the way it responded to the Sichuan quake. Here is the full text of the speech the Bishop of Hong Kong delivered before the 1 July march.