.- The
Vatican has announced that during the month of April, Pope Benedict XVI
will focus his prayer specifically on the plight of the much-persecuted
Church in China.
The text of the
Holy Father’s April mission intention, released today, is "That the
Church in China may carry out its evangelizing mission serenely and in
full freedom."
The Vatican is
currently exploring ways to better serve Catholics in China, where the
communist government has established a government-sponsored Church
which discourages--sometimes violently--the faithful from giving
primary adherence to the Holy Father.
A large
underground Church, faithful to the Pope, exists as well, but experts
say its religious liberties are being trampled by a closely-watching
government.
China’s newly
elevated Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun has encouraged Catholics in the
country to “be patient” as they wait for religious freedom. The Vatican
has expressed an openness to listening to the Chinese government in
hopes of compromise but China has insisted that it will not work with
the Holy See unless they break ties with China.
The Church has consistently rejected that idea.
Pope Benedict has said that he is open to a trip to China in the near future, but said that he’s leaving the timing up to God.
