Saturday May 17, 2008
Pope asks for freedom of faith for China Catholics
By Phil Stewart
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - A prayer written by Pope Benedict for Catholics in communist China asks that they be allowed to freely express their faith and allegiance to him.
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Pope Benedict XVI waves to faithful during a mass in Plebiscito square in Naples October 21, 2007. (REUTERS/Tony Gentile) |
The prayer, which was released by the Vatican on Friday, will be used by Catholics around the world on May 24, the Church's day of prayer for Catholics in China.
"Sustain all those in China, who, amid their daily trials continue to believe, to hope, to love," it says. "May they never be afraid to speak of Jesus to the world ..."
China's Catholics are split between those who belong to a state-backed Church and an underground Church whose members are loyal to the pope, who Catholics believe is the successor to St. Peter.
Benedict says Catholics in China should be allowed to be cling "to the rock of Peter on which the Church is built," in a clear reference to the papacy.
The pope has gone to great lengths recently to improve relations with China, an officially atheist state.
Earlier this month, the pope reached out to China by hosting a concert at the Vatican by Beijing's national orchestra. China said it hoped the unprecedented concert could help build friendship and understanding.
Last year he appealled for the restoration of diplomatic ties severed two years after the 1949 communist takeover.
Relations between the Vatican and Beijing have hit low points several times in recent years as the Vatican criticised China for appointing bishops without papal approval.
A main sticking point is the Vatican's relations with Taiwan, which Beijing considers a renegade province. China wants the Vatican to cut the ties.
When the pope announced the day of prayer for China last year, he decried that many of China's Catholics suffered for their faith and encouraged them to remain strong amid many difficulties.
His prayer issued on Friday asked the Madonna -- referring to her as "Mother of China and all Asia" -- to protect Chinese Catholics.
Copyright © 2008 Reuters
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