Beijing (AsiaNews) Msgr. Wei Jingyi, underground bishop of the diocese of Qiqihar arrested on March 5, was released on the afternoon of March 14. This is what AsiaNews sources in China reported today.
According to AsiaNews sources, the bishop had gone to the airport to pick up some foreign friends. But on leaving the airport and paying the toll he and the driver of the car were stopped and arrested. His two foreign guests (both French citizens) were arrested as well, but released just a few hours later.
The news of Bishop Wei's arrest provoked strong reaction from the Vatican. The director of the Holy See's press office, Joaquin Navarro Valls, said the Vatican was "worried and saddened" and asked Chinese authorities to reveal their accusations against the bishop "as occurs in any lawful state". "The Holy See, the statement concluded, "has no reason to doubt the bishop's innocence."
The next day an indirect response came from Beijing via the country's foreign ministry spokesman, who specified that the prelate was being held "for questioning" about falsifying a document to leave the country.
Catholics in the Qiqihar diocese feared the bishop would be released only after Easter in order to avoid unauthorized Holy Week gatherings and festivities.
Bishop Wei's sudden release, according to AsiaNews sources, was particularly due to the Vatican's quick and strong reaction and at a time when the National People's Congress was in session. The annual meeting of Chinese parliament found Chinese leaders debating whether to introduce the terms "freedom of faith" and "protection of human rights" into the country's constitution. The bishop's release saves the government from embarrassment, as it is often criticized for stating things in theory but not backing them up in actual practice.
Other sources say the fact that foreigners were involved in the arrest facilitated the prelate's release.
According to AsiaNews there are currently around 50 bishops and priests detained in jails or prevented from practicing their ministry. About 20 priests are in prisons or labor camps. Bishop James Su Zhimin and his auxiliary, Francis An Shuxin, from the Baoding diocese, have spent the most time behind bars after being arrested one day by police in 1996.