.- Cardinal
Joseph Zen of Hong Kong said Monday that Chinese government officials
and the Holy See “have entered into real talks” about normalizing
diplomatic relations.
In statements to
ATV World television in Hong Kong, the new cardinal said he was under
the impression that “real talks” between the two parties were under way
in Rome. His statements came a week after China’s Director of
Religious Affairs, Ye Xiaowen, confirmed that formal contact had been
made with the Holy See aimed at establishing bilateral diplomatic
relations. According to Ye, this “could take place soon.”
Cardinal Zen
also said that one of the most complicated issues in the talks was the
issue of appointing bishops, as Beijing considers episcopal
appointments by the Holy See to be intrusion into internal affairs.
According to
some sources, the Vatican would accept submitting a roster of names to
Chinese authorities and allowing Beijing to voice an opinion, as long
as the Vatican had the final word. Cardinal Ze said authority
over appointments could not be the exclusive domain of an “atheist
government.”
The Hong Kong
bishop also noted that one of the conditions the Vatican has set for
establishing relations is the existence of freedom of religion in
China. The Church, he said, calls for “absolute religious
freedom.”
