ASIA/CHINA - A priest in Beijing says: “The Papal Letter is a pastoral guide and religious teaching for all …it will serve as a sort of Basic Law of the Faith”

Beijing (Agenzia Fides) - “ The Papal Letter is a pastoral guide and religious teaching for all" said a priest in Beijing in front line for evangelisation who expressed his enthusiasm for the publication of the long awaited Papal Letter addressed to the Catholic Church in China. The priest said the Letter will be regarded as a “sort of Basic Law of the Faith for which we have waited and prayed for so long”. “The Church in China has great need of this religious teaching. We are sure that the Pope in his Letter will give us clear and precise instructions for pastoral care, and the mission of the Church”.
Chinese Catholics overseas are also waiting with expectation for the Papal Letter. An ethnic Chinese Catholic in Sydney, Australia said, “the Letter is important for Chinese Catholics not only in China but everywhere. The widespread expectation for the Letter confirms the importance of the Holy Father's contribution for the life of the Church in China towards which we also wish to contribute with the pastoral work”. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 30/6/2007 - righe 19, parole 195)