ASIA/CHINA - Reactions to apointment of mainland Chinese bishops as members of Vatican Synod of Bishops in October: “with faith and hope we pray before the Eucharist and hope with all our heart that they bishop may travel to Rome in response to the Pope’s call”

Beijing (Fides Service) - Yesterday rumours un China with regard to the presence of Chinese bishops at the October Synod of Bishops in Rome were confirmed when the Holy See press office announced that Pope Benedict XVI has appointed members of the 11th ordinary Synod of Bishops to be held 2-23 October in the Vatican besides Cardinal Paul Shan, bishop of Kaohsiung, and Bishop Joseph Zen, of Hong Kong, four mainland bishops: Bishop Aloysius Jin Luxian of Shanghai; Bishop Anthony Li Du An of Xi’An (Shaan Xi); Bishop Wei Jing Yi of Qiqihar (Hei Long Jiang); Bishop Li Jingfeng of Fengxiang (Shaan Xi).
According to a Chinese priest in Beijing “local Catholics were delighted at the news, judging from exchanges of opinions on the Internet. The future appears less dark. This means the Pope and the Vatican have not forgotten us. The Pope knows that evangelisation in China cannot be delayed and that it is more important than any political questions”. However some fear for the poor health conditions of the bishops invited to the Synod. “Bishop Aloysius Jin Luxian is almost 90 and has been ill for some time. Bishop Li Du An has cancer and is 79 but will probably be able to travel. Bishop Li Jingfeng is 85. The youngest is Bishop Wei Jingyi but he is in a difficult position as secretary of the Conference of Underground Bishops; he has been arrested for holding false identity papers. However with faith and hope we pray before the Eucharist and hope with all our heart that they bishop may travel to Rome in response to the Pope’s call”.
Reaction from the non Catholic world: Prof. Ren Yan Li of the Beijing Social Academy, well known expert in Christianity and relations between China and the Holy See said: “From the purely religious point of view the Catholic Church in China accepts the invitation to take part in the Synod it is normal to go the Vatican to take part in the Synod”. An official of Beijing’s religious affairs bureau said: “We cannot confirm the invitation was sent”. A member of the official Catholic Church in China said: “We have received no invitation. Therefore we cannot make any comment. In the past the Vatican invited the Church in mainland China to meetings of a purely religious nature, some succeded, others did not.” A journalist who follows relations between China and the Vatican used sport in his statement and said, “the Vatican has thrown the ball now it is up to Beijing to pick it up and the reply will be decisive for the future.” (Agenzia Fides 09/09/2005 Righe: 35 Parole: 473)