Chinese priest: "Best wishes, Holy Father; we pledge our fidelity"
Beijing (AsiaNews) For the first time, Chinese Catholics were able to watch live a church function from the rest of the world. Phoenix TV, a satellite channel, broadcast some 45 minutes of the solemn ceremony inaugurating Benedict XVI's pontificate, including in China. The decision was taken at the last minute whilst the sites of the People's Daily and China Daily did not report the event. Although broadcasting began only after the homily, a Chinese priest said: "We are happy anyway, even excited. Finally, we can see our Pope". The priest went on to say: "The white hair inspires tenderness and affection. That greeting with joined hands, which is almost Chinese (it indicates zuo yi, i.e being united) breaks down the distance between us and the Pontiff." "Best wishes, Holy Father; we pledge our fidelity, our support and prayers. Our small flock in China counts on you". The priest said his community did not know that the mass in St Peter was going to be broadcast. "This morning, during mass, we prayed for Benedict XVI and remembered John Paul II. We had no idea that the celebration was going to be broadcast, so I asked the faithful to spiritually follow the ceremony. Then I received an SMS (that confirmed that the programme was on). What a joy! Many faithful spread the news and we were glued to the TV. We want to send our greetings, best wishes, devotion and filial affection to Pope Benedict. We hope he will soon restore our place in the Universal Church. We are always united to the Pope and the Universal Church." Many young people followed the ceremony via internet. Afterwards all the faithful continued to speak and exchange impressions about the emotions they experienced.
Representatives of more than 150 states attended the inaugural mass of Benedict XVI's pontificate. A delegation from Taiwan was present but noneat least, officially from the People's Republic of China. Days ago Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said that the Vatican must break off relations with Taiwan and stop interfering in the internal affairs of China, including religious affairs like bishop appointments, if it wants to improve relations between China and the Holy See. Wen's statement discouraged many faithful and priests from asking for a visa to visit Rome in Italy.
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14/04/2005
