Current:Home > InvestHead of China’s state-backed Catholic church begins historic trip to Hong Kong-InfoLens
Head of China’s state-backed Catholic church begins historic trip to Hong Kong
View Date:2024-12-23 16:15:42
HONG KONG (AP) — The head of the Catholic church in China began a trip to Hong Kong on Tuesday at the invitation of the city’s pope-appointed Roman Catholic cardinal, marking the first official visit by a Beijing bishop in history.
Joseph Li, who was installed by China’s state-controlled Catholic church as an archbishop, visited the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in the morning, public broadcaster RTHK said.
Li’s five-day tour came after the city’s newly installed Cardinal Stephen Chow invited him to visit Hong Kong during a landmark trip to Beijing in April — the first visit to the Chinese capital by the city’s bishop in nearly three decades. Experts said the invitation was a symbolic gesture that could strengthen the fragile relationship between China and the Vatican.
Earlier this month, Chow said his job is to foster better communication between the sides, and underscored the importance of human connections when asked about the significance of Li’s visit.
The Hong Kong diocese said Li would meet with Chow and “different diocesan offices to promote exchanges and interactions between the two dioceses.” It said this is the first time a Beijing bishop has officially visited Hong Kong, without disclosing further details about Li’s trip.
Beijing and the Vatican severed diplomatic ties in 1951 following the Communist Party’s rise to power and the expulsion of foreign priests. Since the break in ties, Catholics in China have been divided between those who belong to an official, state-sanctioned church and those in an underground church loyal to the pope. The Vatican recognizes members of both as Catholics but claims the exclusive right to choose bishops.
The Vatican and China signed an accord in 2018 over the thorny issue of bishop nominations, but Beijing has violated it. Most recently Pope Francis was forced to accept the unilateral appointment of a new bishop of Shanghai.
Francis in September insisted that the Vatican’s relations with China were going well but said work must still be done to show Beijing that the Catholic church isn’t beholden to a foreign power. During his trip to Mongolia that month, he also sent a special greeting to China’s “noble” people, giving them a special shout-out at the end of a Mass.
The 2018 agreement has been harshly criticized by Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen, who was detained in May last year on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces under a Beijing-imposed national security law that jailed or silenced many activists. He was released on bail and has yet to be formally charged, but he and five others were fined in a separate case last November for failing to register a now-defunct fund set up to help arrested protesters.
veryGood! (2)
Related
- Atlanta man dies in shootout after police chase that also kills police dog
- 'DWTS' 2018 winner Bobby Bones agrees with Julianne Hough on his subpar dancing skills
- East Palestine residents want more time and information before deciding to accept $600M settlement
- Protesters plan large marches and rallies as Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago
- New Mexico secretary of state says she’s experiencing harassment after the election
- Indianapolis police sergeant faces internet child exploitation charges, department says
- Sixers agree with breakout Olympic star Guerschon Yabusele on one-year deal, per report
- Barry Keoghan Snuggles Up With His “Charmer” Son Brando, 2, in Rare Photo
- Driver dies after crashing on hurricane-damaged highway in North Carolina
- 3 things to do if you're worried about having too little saved for retirement
Ranking
- New Orleans marks with parade the 64th anniversary of 4 little girls integrating city schools
- New surveys show signs of optimism among small business owners
- Ryan Reynolds Shares How Deadpool & Wolverine Honors Costar Rob Delaney's Late Son Henry
- Love Island USA’s Kaylor Martin Is Done Crying Over Aaron Evans
- Cold case arrest: Florida man being held in decades-old Massachusetts double murder
- Why preseason struggles should serve as wake-up call for Chargers' Jim Harbaugh
- Joe Jonas Shares Glimpse Into His Crappy 35th Birthday Celebration
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Cutting the Cards
Recommendation
-
'I heard it and felt it': Chemical facility explosion leaves 11 hospitalized in Louisville
-
19-year-old arrested as DWI car crash leaves 5 people dead, including 2 children, in Fort Worth: Reports
-
Matt Gaetz and Rick Scott face challengers in Florida primaries
-
At Democratic Convention, UAW head threatens strike against Stellantis over delayed plant reopening
-
The Fate of Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager's Today Fourth Hour Revealed
-
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, R.A.s
-
What advice does Little League's Coach of the Year have for your kid? 'Let's EAT!'
-
Lainey Wilson’s career felt like a ‘Whirlwind.’ On her new album, she makes sense of life and love