WYD in Krakow, a “bridge of love and closeness for the Catholics in mainland China”
A small informal delegation from Taiwan came to Poland to meet with mainland Chinese Catholics. For its members, “it is very difficult for us to show our love and support to our brothers and sisters” in the mainland. Teresa Wang, from Kaohsiung’s Rosary Cathedral wants to work with disabled people in the mainland, “But political tensions between Beijing and Taipei make this wish almost impossible." An appeal is made to bishops not to forget religious freedom in Asia.
Krakow (AsiaNews) - A small Taiwanese delegation of eleven arrived in Krakow a week ago after an exhausting 42-hour journey to transform the 31st World Youth Days (WYD) to into a bridge of love and closeness for the Catholics of mainland China, this according to Teresa Wang.
Speaking to AsiaNews, the young woman who is active member of Kaohsiung’s Rosary Cathedral, said, "During the year, it is very difficult for us to show our love and support for our brothers and sisters [in mainland China]. For this reason, we are here: to embrace Pope Francis and our peers from around the world, especially Catholics from the mainland."
The pontiff will arrive in the "cultural capital" two days from now, on Wednesday, 27 July. His first day will be devoted to official meetings with government officials and Polish bishops at Wawel Castle.
At the Bishop’s Palace in Krakow, just below the castle, Card Stanisław Dziwisz yesterday met all the bishops present ahead of the pope’s arrival.
The young Taiwanese came to the event to greet those they could see, asking them to pray for mainland China and religious freedom in Asia.
"We would like to hear Catholic prelates speak more forcefully about our continent’s situation,” said John, another member of the delegation.
“We understand that there are many other places beside ours,” he told AsiaNews, hence we will not criticise them. However, we tried to remind them that many young people could not come here, not for economic reasons or time, but because of modern persecution."
For John, China is not alone. “My thoughts go to young people in Vietnam, Cambodia and those in the Middle East. We shall pray a lot for them."
Teresa Wang knows the situation in South East Asia. She worked as a volunteer at a centre for disabled people in Cambodia, and now wants to do the same in mainland China.
“Mine is a vocation,” she said. “I would like to be useful for those who suffer, and I know that on the other side of the sea in front of my house there are many children whom I could help. But political tensions between Beijing and Taipei make this wish almost impossible."
For this reason, the WYD "could and should be decisive. I know it is impossible to imagine that Chinese and Taiwanese leaders could come to Krakow. But I think, naively perhaps, that the leaders of tomorrow’s world are among the young people who are here. This is why we want to meet young people from mainland China to tell them that we are brothers, and that we can change the world together even though we are very young. "
For his part, John plans to study political science in the United States. "But after graduation I want to return to Taiwan, not like many others in the past who studied abroad and remained there.
“I really believe that we should take action in our own societies. I want to get involved in politics to bring Christian values to our society. As the pope said, the laity has a task to change things. And our new [Catholic] vice president is a great example from this point of view. I hope I can follow in his footsteps."
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01/08/2017 12:39
27/06/2008
