Adnkronos: Sirico (Acton Institute): "cardinal Zen remains in Rome, voice for freedom must not be silenced"

"The Vatican, the spiritual and diplomatic heart of the Catholic Church, can offer Cardinal Zen a strategic refuge from which to continue his mission"

With the conclave for the succession of Pope Francis upon us, Father Robert Sirico (President emeritus Acton Institute) wanted to focus on a pressing issue: "while Beijing strengthens its control over Hong Kong, the situation of Cardinal Zen, bishop emeritus of the city and today ninety-three, requires urgent attention. His strenuous defense of human rights, religious freedom and democratic values has made him a target of the Chinese regime. Having obtained permission to attend Pope Francis' funeral, the cardinal is faced with a crucial choice: to return to Hong Kong, where persecution awaits him, or to remain in Rome to continue his testimony safely. I have not consulted Cardinal Zen, but as a priest and friend of the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement,I urge him to stay. His presence in the Vatican would constitute a clear denunciation of Chinese oppression and a beacon of hope for millions of faithful ".

Sirico explained: "The Vatican, the spiritual and diplomatic heart of the Catholic Church, can offer Cardinal Zen a strategic refuge from which to continue his mission. Staying in Rome would not be a step backwards, but a way to strengthen his voice globally. Cardinal Zen openly criticized the provisional agreement between the Vatican and China in 2018, calling it a “sale ” of illegal Catholics. Staying in Rome, he could insist on a revision of the agreement, which has been renewed three times, strengthening Beijing's control over the Church. Those who argue that his return would inspire the faithful of Hong Kong ignore reality: the cardinal has already been arrested, is under surveillance, and the regime is willing to hit hard every symbol of resistance, as shown by the detention of Jimmy Lai,Catholic publisher imprisoned for over 1,500 days ".

"From Rome - concluded Sirico - Cardinal Zen could support the cause of democracy in Hong Kong, dialogue with international leaders, encourage Catholics all over the world to pray and act for the persecuted in China and, finally, push the Vatican to take a clearer stance against Beijing's interference. His presence would be a warning: the Church does not give in to tyranny. It would not be an escape, but a moral garrison, a point of reference for millions of faithful fighting for freedom".

This article was originally published in Adnkronos. It was translated from Italian to English using AI.