On the return flight to Rome from Kazakhstan, Pope Francis was asked about religious freedom, in the context of the trial in Hong Kong of Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun that was to begin on Monday 19 September. The cardinal was set to stand trial along with three other trustees of a humanitarian fund that provided financial and legal aid to Hong Kongers arrested during the 2019 demonstrations against a bill to allow political detainees in Hong Kong to be sent to the mainland for trial. The start of the trial was delayed on Monday, reportedly after a judge in the case tested positive for coronavirus.
“Having spoken about the importance of religious freedom at the Kazakhstan Congress,” a reporter asked Pope Francis, “do you consider the trial against Cardinal Zen a violation of religious freedom?"
The Pope replied: “To understand China takes a century, and we do not live for a century. The Chinese mentality is a rich mentality, and when it gets a little sick, it loses its richness; it is capable of making mistakes. In order to understand we have chosen the path of dialogue, open to dialogue.”
Referring to the Sino-Vatican deal primarily on the appointment of bishops that is due for renewal this autumn, Francis said: “There is a bilateral Vatican-Chinese commission that is going well, slowly, because the Chinese pace is slow, they have an eternity to go forward: they are a people of endless patience … It is not easy to understand the Chinese mentality, but it should be respected, I always respect this. And here in the Vatican, there is a dialogue commission that is going well, chaired by Cardinal [Pietro] Parolin and he is the person right now who knows the most about China and dialogue with the Chinese.
“Qualifying China as undemocratic, I do not identify with that, because it's such a complex country ... yes, it is true that there are things that seem undemocratic to us. Cardinal Zen is going to trial these days, I think. And he says what he feels … I try to support the path of dialogue.”
Asked: “What about [Chinese President] Xi Jinping?”, who was in Kazakhstan at the same time as Francis, the Pope replied: “He had a State visit there, but I did not see him.”
Loading ...
