Cardinal Zen feted in Rome and opposed in Beijing
Mar 29, 2006
Hundreds of faithful from Honk Kong and around one hundred Chinese Catholics who live in Italy were present at the Consistory celebrated in St Peter's square this morning.
(AGI) - Vatican City, Mar. 24 - In the former British colony, where cardinal Zen is very famous for defending human rights, many people left their workplaces in advance to watch the ceremony in TV. "We are very excited from joy for this great event" a girl in an interview to Asianews said. Bishop of Hong Kong Joseph Zen Ze Kiung was appointed cardinal by pope Benedict XVI today. Misna press agency reported that there are news of fears from the Chinese government that consider the bishop of Hong Kong a troublemaker. The note says that cardinal Zen is a champion of the Church freedom in China. He is among the people who know better the official church and the underground one in China where the cardinal has been a teacher for many years. A priest of the underground church in northern China said to Asianews: "Cardinal Zen is our model of priest and bishop, he only wants to defend the freedom of religion for the church and he is a friend of the Chinese people. We are all enthusiast and full of joy". The official Church did not express itself in public but some bishops made know to Asianews that they were happy for the pope's choice. One of them said: "Cardinal Zen will be a model for all the bishops and will be able to be a bridge between China and the Vatican. He will make understand to Beijing the spiritual needs of the Church and will help the Vatican to understand the Chinese way of thinking". Another bishop said: "It is a great honour for all the Chinese people". Chinese Catholics fear that if they express their official point of view the Chinese government could be even more hostile to them.
Cardinal Zen feted in Rome and opposed in Beijing