Hong Kong’s Roman Catholic cardinal says he desires of bishops from larger China praying collectively
HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong’s newly appointed Roman Catholic cardinal mentioned he dreamed of bishops and faithfuls from totally different components of larger China praying collectively someday throughout a historic go to by the top of the Chinese language Catholic church, a publication affiliated with town’s diocese reported Friday.
Joseph Li, who was put in by China’s state-controlled Catholic church as an archbishop, arrived in Hong Kong on Monday on the invitation of cardinal Stephen Chow, marking the first-ever official visit by a Beijing bishop to town.
His five-day tour was a reciprocal go to following Chow’s landmark journey to Beijing in April — the first visit to the Chinese language capital by town’s bishop in practically three many years. Consultants mentioned Chow’s invitation was a symbolic gesture that would strengthen the delicate relationship between China and the Vatican.
Beijing and the Vatican severed diplomatic ties in 1951 following the Communist Social gathering’s rise to energy and the expulsion of international monks. For the reason that break in ties, Catholics in China have been divided between those that belong to an official, state-sanctioned church and people in an underground church loyal to the pope. The Vatican acknowledges members of each as Catholics however claims the unique proper to decide on bishops.
Li and Chow took half in a Mass with Hong Kong’s cardinal John Tong and different church officers from mainland China on Wednesday, the Kung Kao Po newspaper mentioned.
“One in all my desires … is to have bishops, fathers and faithfuls from 4 cross-strait societies to wish collectively,” Chow mentioned, referring to Hong Kong, Macao, mainland China and Taiwan.
In a seminar on Wednesday, Chow affirmed the Hong Kong church’s position as a “bridge church,” the report added.
The Vatican and China signed an accord in 2018 over the thorny difficulty of bishop nominations, however Beijing has violated it. Most just lately, Pope Francis was forced to accept the unilateral appointment of a brand new bishop of Shanghai. The settlement has been harshly criticized by Hong Kong cardinal Joseph Zen.
Francis in September insisted that the Vatican’s relations with China were going well however mentioned work should nonetheless be completed to indicate Beijing that the Catholic church isn’t beholden to a international energy.
The set up of Li in 2007, nonetheless, was well-regarded by the Vatican and church officers on the time mentioned it was completed with its approval.
Throughout his journey to Hong Kong, Li joined a night prayer service with Chow, exchanged presents with the cardinal and visited varied spiritual premises, together with the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and the Holy Spirit Seminary, Kung Kao Po mentioned.
Li advised the publication that he realized concerning the growth of the Hong Kong diocese and pledged to make the China church higher. “This chance permits us to study numerous issues,” he mentioned.
