ASIA/CHINA - Priests and lay Catholics in Beijing in front line evangelisation anxiously await promised Papal Letter to Chinese Catholics: “Thank you Pope Benedict XVI!”

Beijing (Agenzia Fides) - “For a long time we have been waiting and praying for precise and concrete guidelines from the Holy See. We pray that everyone will realise the great consideration and esteem the Holy Father has for China. And we want to say thank you to Pope Benedict XVI!”. While looking forward to receiving a special Papal Letter announced at the end of a meeting in the Vatican 19 and 20 January, Chinese Catholics priests and lay people in front line in evangelisation feel closely united with the Pope and the Holy See and through Fides News Service, which has its own Chinese edition, they wish to thank the Pope for the love he shows towards them.
Local sources told Fides that Catholics in China “consider evangelisation through life witness and active participation in social life the nest way to respond to the loving kindness of the Pope and the universal Church”. Catholic priests and laity all over the country lived with deep devotion Corpus Christi, the month of the Sacred Heart, the Feast of the Sacred Heart with prayers and adoration waiting expectantly for the Papal Letter. They also renewed their resolve to lead an authentic Christian life with missionary commitment so as “not to disappoint the love shown by the Holy Father”. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 26/6/2007 - righe 21, parole 227)