Rome, Italy, May 27, 2008 / 13:50 pm
In an interview with the Italian daily La Stampa, Cardinal Joseph Zen of Hong Kong warned that “nationalism is a real danger” in China and could lead to fascism or dictatorship.
Cardinal Zen referred to analysts who “see in recent events in China the danger that the country is on the road to fascism, or maybe is heading towards a dictatorial regime with strong nationalist tendencies.”
“The government has insisted greatly on Chinese pride for the upcoming Olympic games, saying it is only a healthy national sentiment and not ideological nationalism,” the cardinal said.
Asked about the obstacles that prevent the re-establishing of diplomatic relationships between Beijing and the Vatican, Cardinal Zen said, “The main difficulty is the absence of true religious freedom in China.”