Priests happy as Pope opens arms to Chinese

By Jeff Graham

The paternal love that Pope Benedict XVI has for the people of China is apparent in his recent letter, according to Father Anthony Ho, assistant pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Vancouver. In explaining his purpose in writing the letter, the Pope was straightforward in expressing his love for China.

“I wish to convey to all of you the expression of my fraternal closeness,” The Holy Father wrote. “With intense joy I acknowledge your faithfulness to Christ the Lord and to the Church, a faithfulness you have manifested ‘sometimes at the price of grave sufferings,’ since ‘it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake.”

Father Ho, who was born in Hong Kong, expressed his appreciation that the Holy Father had expressed his fraternal love and pastoral concern so openly, instead of focusing on political issues between the state and the Church.

“I thought that in the letter, the Pope showed himself to be the spiritual father to all the Catholics in China, because the tone is very warm and fatherly,” said Father Ho. “The Pope also showed himself as the spiritual leader by laying down very clear principles regarding the Catholic Church in civil life, and regarding communion of the faithful. The principles are very clear, and very helpful in understanding the relationship between the Chinese government and the Vatican, and for Catholics in China.”

The Holy Father re-emphasized that the mission of the Church is not to bring about political change, but rather to proclaim Christ to all men and women.

“The Church, by reason of her role and competence, is not identified with any political community, nor is she tied to any political system,” he wrote. “She is at once the sign and the safeguard of the transcendental dimension of the human person.”

Father Ho said the Pope’s letter resonated with his spiritual life.

“I really liked his recommendation that May 24 (the feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians) be a day of prayer for Catholics in China,” he said. “I was in a Salesian school, and I had a devotion to Our Lady, Help of Christians, which is celebrated that day, and now that day, the day that we honour Our Lady, will become a day of prayer. It is very wonderful!”

“My ordination card had an image of Mary, Help of Christians, and so that devotion is something very intimate for me. I love that devotion, and now the Pope has made that day a day of devotion for the Chinese people, and so it’s very touching.”

Father Ho said he also appreciated how the Pope seemed to grasp the bigger picture of the spiritual issues facing the Chinese people.

“I appreciate that the Pope has concern for every area of China, and that he didn’t overlook any problems that are important. I also appreciated that he really emphasized the formation of the faithful and the formation of the priests.”

Father Ho explained that issues like lay and priestly formation, issues which the Pope addressed in his letter, can often be overshadowed by what he called The Big Two: state relations with the Vatican and the valid ordination of bishops.

“I appreciated that he went into particulars, that he went into the day-to-day life of the Chinese people,” said Father Ho.

Pope Benedict further pointed out how many Catholics in China have a vibrant faith, and how many priests and religious are carrying out their duties extraordinarily in the face of significant difficulties. Father Ho said he has met priests and religious who have endured these difficulties, some of which could rightly be termed persecution.

“I would say that the letter brought up many memories of the past. As a young priest, I did not live through that time of persecution, but I met some priests and religious brothers and sisters who went through persecutions. I met a priest and a brother who were in prison for some years, and I also met a bishop who had been in prison for many years.”

“I met those people, and I think for many of us those painful memories came to mind, and the Pope as Spiritual Father shares that pain, but points to the future and how to heal that pain. He pointed out the role of forgiveness and reconciliation.”

“The priests can also help us to be open to the possibility of a better relation with the Chinese government and reconciliation with bishops who were not in communion with the Holy See. While the letter brings up things that are painful, it has a tone of hope.”

Father Ho thinks there may be great things in store for China.

“The Catholics are just a little minority, and so there’s a great potential. There is a great potential in China, and great potential here in Vancouver.”

Father Paul Chu, pastor of Canadian Martyrs Parish in Richmond, sees the document as a huge step forward in the relationship between the Vatican and China.

“The Pope’s delivery was very compassionate and understanding of the Chinese culture. He has opened his arms to dialogue, yet he stands firm on the principles of the Church. He stressed unity, and how the Church is meant to be structured, and how it is not meant to be controlled by a political structure.”

“I think he laid down very good principles of the Church: the bottom line of the Church. I think he wanted to deliver a clear message to the Chinese government, and said that this is the way the Church should go.

Father Chu thinks that the letter not only helped diplomatic relations, but also gave a shot in the arm to the faithful of mainland China.

“It stirred up the people and made them realize that the Holy Father is concerned about them: he extended his arms and prayers to them, and showed that the Church has turned its eyes to the problems of persecution there. This letter illustrates the great pastoral care the Pope has for the Church in China, and those who are persecuted.

“I also think the Pope realizes the complexity and difficulties of the situation there; he is fully aware of what is going on, and so for those people being persecuted in mainland China, this letter will be a huge boost to their morale. The Pope said he was praying for the Church in China, and it’s very uplifting to hear the Pope say that.”

While it may seem to be a relatively small detail in the grand scheme of things, Father Chu was greatly impressed people could go to the Vatican web site and download the document in a number of different Chinese languages. He said he hoped gestures like that would help the Chinese government better understand what the Church is about.

“I really hope this opens the door to government understanding that the Church is not a political entity, but rather understand that it is about evangelization, and it is about the love of God. I think when they understand what the Church is about, they won’t have such strong opposition to it.”

The papal letter is available through The B.C. Catholic web site, http://bcc.rcav.org.