Author:
Publication: Zenit.org
Date: October 30, 2001
But Wants Pope to Apologize for
Canonizing Martyrs Last Year
China welcomed John Paul II's request
for forgiveness for the past faults of the Church's children in that country.
But it also wants him to apologize for last year's canonization of 120
China martyrs.
Sun Yuxi, spokesman of the Chinese
Foreign Ministry, said in a press conference that the Pope's request for
forgiveness is a "positive sign."
But he added: "We see that the papal
message does not include clear requests for pardon for the canonization
of saints. We regret this."
John Paul II is willing to travel
to China if this would help to normalize Vatican-Beijing relations, the
secretary of the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education, Archbishop
Giuseppe Pittau, said last week.
Last year Beijing protested the
canonization of 120 martyrs, whom the Communist authorities regard as "criminals,"
and stated that this "insult to the Chinese people" removed any possibility
of rapprochement with the Vatican.
John Paul II broke the ice by sending
a message to the Chinese people last Wednesday, on the occasion of the
400th anniversary of Jesuit missionary Father Matteo Ricci's arrival in
China. The message asked for forgiveness for past errors of the Church's
children.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman said:
"The Chinese government has always wanted to improve its relations with
the Vatican, basing itself on two fundamental principles: non-interference
in internal affairs with the pretext of religion, and recognition of the
People's Republic of China as the only legitimate government for the whole
of China, including Taiwan."
Several Vatican personalities, including
Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano and Archbishop Pittau, have stated
on repeated occasions that the second condition is easy to resolve. Vatican
diplomatic representation had been in Beijing until 1957, when it had to
move to Taiwan after the People's Republic severed its relations with Rome.
The first question referred to by
Beijing is more difficult, since the Communist government believes the
appointment of bishops by the Pontiff constitutes interference in China's
"internal affairs."
Archbishop Pittau said last week
that "John Paul II has already thought of technical solutions" to surmount
this problem.
These solutions, the prelate added,
will be proposed to Beijing as soon as the occasion presents itself. "There
is no issue that can separate us," he added.
In Vietnam, for example, the Holy
See presents a list of candidates for the governance of a diocese to the
Communist government. The authorities choose the bishop that suits them
most from the list.
"Prior to the [October 2000] canonization,
there were already contacts to improve relations between China and the
Vatican," Sun explained. "However, the canonization has meant a new obstacle."
"We hope that the Vatican will take
concrete measures to remove the obstacles in order to create a propitious
atmosphere for the re-establishment of contacts and negotiations," he added.
