Valentina di Giorgio
(ZENIT News / Rome, 29.11.2022).- Two days after the Vatican published a note of “protest” against the Chinese Government for the appointment of a Bishop to a diocese that the Holy See doesn’t recognize, the Communist country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave an answer.
The answer was given by the Ministry’s spokesman in a press conference on Monday, November 28, to the following question posed by AFP: “(. . . ) the Vatican said that the recent appointment of a Bishop in the Jiangxi province violates the Chinese-Vatican Agreement.. What is China’s answer?
Spokesman Zhao Lijian replied: “(. . .) I’m not aware of what you’ve mentioned. I must point out that, over the last years, China and the Vatican have kept [their] commitment and have reached a series of important common understandings. The improvement of the ties between China and the Vatican have also contributed to the harmonious development of Catholicism in China. China is prepared to work with the Vatican, to continue extending the common understandings on the friendly ties and to keep jointly the spirit of the Provisional Agreement.”
A day before the publication of the note of protest, on Friday, November 25, the Chinese Communist Government sanctioned with a fine the Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong, Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, SDB.
