Robert Besser
27 May 2022, 21:52 GMT+10
HONG KONG: In his first public remarks since he was arrested under Hong Kong's National Security Law earlier this month, Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen has criticized the Vatican for its "unwise" deal with China, due for renewal in September.
Zen, 90, spoke at a mass at a Chinese Catholic church almost two weeks after being arrested with four other activists, as part of a national security police probe into foreign collusion over a legal support fund.
Zen was released on police bail pending possible formal charges.
At a gathering of 300 people at a small neighborhood church on Hong Kong island, Zen said, "The Vatican may have acted out of good faith, but they have made an unwise decision."
He also urged praying for "brothers and sisters who cannot attend the mass in any form tonight, for they have no freedom now."
Zen has long criticized the deal first signed in 2018, to close a longstanding divide across mainland China between an underground flock loyal to the Vatican and a state-backed official church.
In 2020, the Vatican-China agreement was extended, pending renewal later this year.
During his court appearance, Zen pleaded not guilty to a minor offense of failing to register the fund as a society with the police.
While the Vatican has expressed "concern" and said it was following developments "with extreme attention," the White House and human rights groups condemned the charges against Zen and other activists.
Without going into detail about his situation, Zen said it was not unusual for Catholics to "bear some pain."
Get a daily dose of Madagascar Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Madagascar Sun.
More InformationNew Delhi [India], June 25 (ANI): Ahead of the G7 Summit where he will be meeting with German Chancellor Olaf ...
Mogadishu [Somalia], June 25 (ANI/Xinhua): Somali Parliament on Saturday unanimously approved the appointment of Hamza Abdi Barre as the country's ...
New Delhi [India], June 25 (ANI): ATK Mohun Bagan have further added to their list of acquisitions and maintained its ...
© Provided by Xinhua In America, the wealthy, powerful, and influential NRA spends millions of dollars annually supporting Republican candidates ...
ABU DHABI, 25th June, 2022 (WAM) -- President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a congratulatory ...
London [UK], June 25 (ANI): Nottingham Forest on Saturday confirmed the signing of Nigerian international forward Taiwo Awoniyi for a ...
MOSCOW, Russia: The UK newspaper, the Telegraph, has been blocked in Russia, following a request from the Russian prosecutor-general.The TASS ...
LAHORE, Pakistan - An Airbus 320 carrying 171 passengers narrowly avoided an accident at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Pakistan's second-largest ...
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday vowed to "do all in my power" to protect a woman's ...
YANGON, Myanmar - According to military-run media, a junta delegation discussed nuclear technology collaboration with a Russian state-owned atomic energy ...
DHAKA, Bangladesh - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing more than Tk2.3 crore in emergency funding ...
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: Cambodian villagers on the Mekong River have caught a stingray fish weighing 661 pounds, which is the ...