The meeting marked the 25th anniversary of the United Chinese Catholic Biblical Association. More than 300 people travelled to Taiwan from 18 countries. In order to mark the 50th anniversary of 'Dei Verbum,' participants humbly offered Pope Francis a new Chinese translation of 'Evangelii Gaudium'.

Taipei (AsiaNews) - The United Chinese Catholic Biblical Association (UCCBA) humbly donated a new Chinese translation of Evangelii Gaudium to Pope Francis and committed itself to dedicate 2015 to the biblical pastoral ministry.

This came at the end of a meeting in Taiwan on 'Bearing Witness to the Word for New Evangelization'. More than 300 people from 18 nations, along with local clergy, and the chargé d'affaires of the Holy See in the island, Mgr Russell, celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Association and the 50^th anniversary of the conciliar document 'Dei Verbum'.

Pope Francis sent two messages, one for the Chinese Biblical Congress and one for the Association, which were read by Archbishop Peter Liu, president of the Bible Apostolate Committee of the Doctrine of the Faith and Catechetical Instruction Commission of the Chinese Regional Bishops' Conference.

In his message, the pontiff said that he expressed through prayer and spiritual communion his solidarity with the family of Chinese Catholics gathered around the Word of God.

Participants included more than 190 lay people from 18 nations, including Hong Kong, mainland China, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Japan, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand. Six prelates were present, including Cardinal Joseph Zen, bishop emeritus of Hong Kong.

UCCBA President Father Joseph Fung expressed joy that the official Chinese version of Evangelii Gaudium was published in time for the Biblical Congress in Taipei, with free copies made available by Claretian Publications.

Chinese biblical scholar Fr Joseph Zhang spoke about "Evangelization within the Chinese Community - How Does the Bible Encounter Chinese People".

In his address, which was well received, the clergyman emphasised the importance of reading the Bible "with one's life" in order to train "Gospel-filled missionary disciples, [. . .] offering the Good News that Chinese people need in view of their new life situations."

UCCBA Secretary Cecilia Chui described the experience as "a New Pentecost with the outpouring of gifts of the Holy Spirit in the company of the Blessed Mother."

For her, "The event engendered fresh new inspirations, hope and vision for all concerned to mark a new page" for "biblical missionary disciples in the Church and in the world in creative ways."

• taiwan
• china
• bible
• association
• evangelii
• gaudium