ASIA/CHINA - Showers of congratulations from Catholics and non: “He has taken the name of the Pope who wrote Maximum illud which speaks of mission in China”

Sunday, 20 February 2005

Beijing (Fides Service) - Showers of congratulations for Benedict XVI are coming from Chinese Catholics everywhere. “Today at Mass we prayed for our Pope Benedict XVI and his mission. We wish him well. Benedict XVI has taken the name of Pope Benedict XV who wrote the Maximum illud (30 November 1919), on missionary activity in the world including the Far East and China. We ask Holy Spirit to continue to guide us and that soon we may welcome the Holy Father here in China where Pope John Paul II longed to come” a priest in Beijing told Fides.
Secular society in China is giving prominence to the Pope’s election. Many popular web sites including (http://news.sina.com.cn/ http://www.chinacatholic.org/, http://www.xinhuanet.com/...) mention a message of congratulations to the Holy See from the official Catholic Church in China and a declaration by the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman who expressed congratulations to the new Pope and said he hoped relations China Holy See may improve. The same wish was voiced by Prof. Zhang Xin Ying vice director of the Institute for the Study of Religions at the Academy of Social Science in Beijing. (Agenzia Fides 20/04/2005 Righe: 25 Parole: 256)


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