Beijing will not respond to Pope's call to dialogue, Chinese bishops say

October 31, 2012

Chinese bishops think it unlikely that government officials there will ever respond to the letter written by Pope Benedict XVI to the Church in China in 2007.

Last week Cardinal Fernando Filoni, the prefect of the Congregation for Evangelization, pointed out that 5 years have passed since the Pope wrote his letter, and the Vatican is still waiting for a reply from Beijing. But such a reply is probably not forthcoming, Chinese bishops told the UCANews service.

One Chinese bishop—who spoke on condition of anonymity, but was described by UCAN as a prelate recognized by both the Holy See and the Chinese government—said that government officials are not motivated to find common ground with the Catholic Church. “They never want to have sincere dialogue,” he said.

 

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Further information:

• Prospects for China-Vatican dialogue are bleak, say clergy (UCANews)
• Cardinal prods China to answer Pope's letter on Church-state relations (CWN, 10/25)