Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Beijing (Agenzia Fides) - "The beatification of our beloved Pope John Paul II represents the hope and blessing for the Church in China and for Chinese Catholics", “it is an opportunity to pray for the unity of the Church and for peace in the world”, “the biggest commitment to evangelization is the best answer to this grace of the Lord granted to the Church”: are some comments expressed by priests and the Catholic faithful in China, collected by Fides, on the occasion of the beatification of Pope John Paul II, which was followed in communion with the universal Church.
The ninety-year-old Bishop of the Diocese of Feng Xiang led a procession carrying the image of Pope John Paul II, just before the Mass of beatification began in Rome, inviting the faithful to follow the ceremony of the Pope, and many faithful were glued in front of the satellite television and computers to follow the Mass of Benedict XVI. Numerous initiatives were promoted by parishes and dioceses, as well as by the Catholic media. The most important Catholic site, Faith, dedicated several pages to the beatification, announcing a contest on the theme "I and Pope John Paul II”. Even the non-Catholic search engine http://baike.xinde.org/index.php?doc-view-452.html dedicated a detailed presentation to Pope Wojtyla.
The Chinese Catholics lived with great emotion and participation this moment, as documented by some eyewitness gathered by Fides. In an article entitled “We applaud and are glad for his beatification”, a priest with great pastoral experience did not hide his enthusiasm for this Pope that" not only left the Vatican, but above all went to the world and thus influenced the whole world”. Don Joseph, senior priest in western China, who had the honor of meeting Pope John Paul II himself, said that "his humility and mercy is my prime example in pastoral work and in life. I thank the Lord for his beatification”. A priest of the center considers Pope Wojtyla "a priceless treasure for all humanity. His honesty and courage to history, his devotion to Our Lady, gave a decisive stimulus to my priesthood”. Don Paul, senior priest of the north-west, said: "He is my example for life. I prayed for his beatification and sanctification from the day of his return to the Father's house. For our faithful, he is already a saint”.
Sister Agnes, a nun of the South, says that John Paul II touched "through his concrete actions taught us the Catholic faith”. Don Antonio, from the south west, was enchanted by the "charm" of Pope Wojtyla. It is not allowed to judge a great Giant of faith like him, but cites an anti-Catholic scholar who said: "this man has no obvious defect that allows us to attack him”. A lay from the west wrote that "his beatification, has created for the Church a new era of opportunity for evangelization today”. A Catholic intellectual from the north summed up the three fundamental points of the life of Pope John Paul II: " determined faith, sincere and radical forgiveness, the great love for the Church in China”. A Catholic who had called for his canonization after his death in 2005, said: "the greatest commitment to evangelization is the best answer to this grace that the Lord has given to the Church”. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 02/05/2011)
