Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - The bishop emeritus of Hong Kong, Card. Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, “publically” visited Shanghai on October 11 and 12 last. For the first time in six years, the cardinal was able to go in his homeland. A visit “full of joy” for the bishop, who visited the Expo and went to meet the city's bishop, 95 year-old Aloysius Jin Luxian, and his Auxiliary Bishop. Joseph Xing Wenzhi.
Both bishops are Shanghai natives: Card. Zen told AsiaNews that the second prelate, 47, “taught at the seminary at Sheshan, where I taught there too ". Sheshan is located on the outskirts of Shanghai and is home to the most important Marian shrine in China.
"Meeting the two brothers in the Lord after years was a great joy - Card. Zen told AsiaNews. However, he wrote on his blog, " reminiscing the meeting with them, it’s like a fly in the ointment. We are great friends, but we knew there were some words that couldn’t be said and some ‘sensitive’ topics that couldn’t be discussed, as the ‘system’ does not warrant it".
This system, he added, "is terrible! is terrible! It becomes a wall in people’s hearts and a lock in people’s mouths. Aren’t we patriotic adults? But we couldn’t talk about the national affairs. Aren’t we Church leaders? But we couldn’t discuss the prospects of the Church".
In conclusion, Card. Zen asks "when the Chinese people can open their hearts to speak the truth, and concluded by praying to the Lord to grant us (Church people) the spiritual strength of Liu Xiaobo, the latest Nobel Peace Prize laureate".