Vatican City, Apr 26, 2012 / 17:03 pm
The evangelization of China hinges on fidelity to the Church and the Pope, says the 5th Commission for the Catholic Church in China hosted by the Vatican April 23-25.
“Obedience to Christ and to the Successor of Peter is the presupposition of every true renewal and this applies to every category within the People of God,” read the communique issued April 26.
Although “aware of the particular difficulties of the present situation,” the commission said, “evangelization cannot be achieved by sacrificing essential elements of the Catholic faith and discipline.”
China has an estimated eight to twelve million Catholics, with about half of those people worshiping in government-controlled Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association. Founded in 1957, it does not acknowledge the authority of the Pope.