In a move seen as a significant step in Sino-Vatican relations, the Chinese government has officially recognised Bishop Melchior Shi Hongzhen as the bishop of Tianjin. The Vatican portrays this development as a victory for Pope Francis’s ongoing efforts to engage with China. Bishop Shi, 95, has long resisted joining the state-sanctioned church. This led Read more
The leader of China’s Communist Party-sponsored version of the Catholic church will visit Hong Kong this month at the invitation of the city’s pope-appointed Roman Catholic cardinal, fostering dialogue as China-Vatican relations remain strained. Joseph Li, the state-appointed archbishop of Beijing, will take a five-day trip to Hong Kong starting Nov 14 at the invitation Read more
Hong Kong’s top Catholic cleric, Bishop Stephen Chow SJ, said patriotism is every citizen’s duty. He dismissed concerns that his visit to Beijing could be interpreted as an attempt to politicise religion. “Everyone would like to see their own country do well; no one wants it to do badly. “I think it’s everyone’s duty to Read more
Hong Kong’s top Catholic cleric, Bishop Stephen Chow, will visit Beijing in April, the first such visit in nearly 30 years. Chow’s five-day trip, to start on April 17, follows an invitation last year by the Bishop of Beijing, Joseph Li Shan, the Hong Kong Catholic Diocese said in a statement on Thursday. It cited Read more