Is Pope Francis optimistic about the Church in China?
Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - Cardinal Zen sent AsiaNews some of his thoughts about the relationship between China and the Vatican. The prelate will be present tomorrow at the AsiaNews International Symposium, whose theme is 'Mission in Asia: from Pope John Paul II to Pope Francis'.
Optimism and pessimism define two expectations about the future, namely the near future and the distant future. When it comes to the definite future, we believers are certainly optimistic: victory belongs to God and to those who put their hope in Him. However, the world's future is under God's providence, and therefore the faithful are basically optimistic.
Optimism does not mean believing in immediate success. The faithful can hang on to hope even in the most desperate situations because they believe that everything is by God's grace. In success as in disappointment, they praise the Lord and persevere in doing His will.
On the flight back from Korea, reporters asked Pope Francis if he would like to visit China. "Of course! Even tomorrow!" he said.
The question probably stems from news reports that Pope Francis and Mr Xi Jinping had exchanged congratulations for their respective election, and that China had allowed the papal plane to fly over its airspace. These are certainly acts of good will, but not much more. The same goes for the pope's answer to reporters.
Many will remember that in an interview I had the audacity to say that should the pope be invited now to visit China, I would advise against it. Based on the great lack of religious freedom and the recent intensification of China's oppressive religious policy, I have no reason to doubt that such an invitation would be just a trick to manipulate the pope and create a false impression. And one of its major effect would be to cause pain to those who are faithful to the pontiff's authority.
Should the current situation changes miraculously, I would certainly be happy to see the Holy Father meet with his children, who have been kept away for so long.
However, we must understand that when Pope Francis said that he would like to visit China, he also said that all he wants from Beijing is the freedom to fulfil our religious duties. In stressing that "Pope Benedict's letter to the Church in China [. . .] is still valid", he also urged people to "Read it!"
In that letter, Pope Benedict wrote that the principles of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association are in contradiction with Catholic ecclesiology, and that the most serious issue today for the Church in China is that bodies outside the Church rule over the bishops, which is to say that the state runs the Church.
People say that China and the Vatican have begun to talk. In Korea, during the meeting with the Asian bishops, the pope spoke about dialogue.
For him, there are two essential conditions for a proper dialogue: first, to be consistent with one's identity; second, openness to understand truly one's interlocutor.
Journalists tend to emphasise the second aspect, but the former is equally important. The Church cannot sell itself short to please the other party.
Recently, the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples held a seminar for bishops ordained in recent years. On that occasion, the Holy Father noted in his final speech the absence of Chinese bishops, saying, "I hope that day [for their visit] will not be far off!" Through our prayer, "they can feel the certainty that their suffering will bear fruit - and what fruit!"
This is Christian optimism. Current suffering is no reason to be pessimistic. Seeking immediate success (in evangelising) could by contrast be very dangerous because it might lead possibly to betraying one's vows of fidelity.
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17/08/2016 12:54
