ASIA/CHINA - “The Pope's Letter is a call to unity based on truth and charity. It is a source of light and strength” say Chinese priests

Beijing (Agenzia Fides) - “The Pope's Letter is a call to unity based on truth and charity. It is a source of light and strength” say Catholic priests in China referring to Pope Benedict XVI's Letter to the bishops, priests, consecrated persons and lay faithful of the Catholic Church in the Peoples Republic of China made public on 30 June. “We see in the Letter the Pope's love and passion for the truth which he has demonstrated since his election. He is a defender of the Truth. The Letter a sort of ‘mini Encyclical’, shows us the path for the future. In fact it will take years for his indications to be implemented. But we are confident and we feel even closer now to the Pope because we realise he is familiar with the situation in China and with our difficulties and he knows too that we are filled with good will and commitment,” the priests told Fides.
Another priest said: “Rome and the Pope are no longer so distant. The Letter has brought us closer geographically and also in mind and spirit. When people ask me to explain the Pope's letter I feel the weight of responsibility and so I pray the Lord every day to help me interpret it wisely. But one key element is unity: we cannot shirk this duty to promote unity, this is the Lord's will, and the Pope's will. We must put it into practice”. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 19/7/2007 - righe 19, parole 267)