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Catholic World News News Feature

Hong Kong diocese cancels pilgrimage under government pressure April 09, 2008

The Hong Kong diocese has cancelled plans for a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Sheshan in Shanghai, citing the concern of government officials about security, the AsiaNews service reports.

Cardinal Joseph Zen has indicated that individual pilgrims may choose to make the pilgrimage on their own, but the official diocesan event scheduled for May 24 will not take place. The date for the pilgrimage had been selected to coincide with the first worldwide day of prayer for the Church in China, designated by Pope Benedict XVI.

Plans for a diocesan pilgrimage had drawn enthusiasm among Catholics in Hong Kong, but Chinese officials were evidently displeased with the idea-- and particularly with the participation of Cardinal Zen, a frequent critic of the Beijing regime. Although the cardinal said that he would not personally make the pilgrimage, officials remained uncomfortable with the prospect of a large number of Catholic pilgrims from Hong Kong joining with the Catholics of Shanghai for the day of prayer. That observance, in response to a papal initiative, would have been a clear public manifestation of the unity between Chinese Catholics and the Holy See-- a display that would undermine Beijing's claims for an independent Chinese Church.

[For a TEXT see the AsiaNews web site.]