Contacts with Patriotic Bishops Do Not Imply Recognition
SHANGHAI, China, SEPT. 19 (ZENIT.org).-- Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, on a visit to China, celebrated Mass today in the famous Shrine of Our Lady Help of Christians here.
The shrine is a site of numerous pilgrimages for Chinese Catholics. The Holy Father described it in detail and recalled its history on Aug. 21, 1988, saying that he wished to be united «spiritually to the pilgrimage of Chinese faithful.» On that day, he entrusted the universal Church to the Virgin of Sheshan (Shanghai), but especially the Church in China.
Cardinal Etchegaray's trip to mainland China which began Sept. 12 with a stop in Beijing. There he took part in an international symposium on «Religions and Peace.» Cardinal Etchegaray has had contacts with civil and ecclesiastical authorities, including some bishops who are members of the Patriotic Association, the state-controlled church. The cardinal is president of the Central Committee for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000.
Before his trip, the Basque-French cardinal told Vatican Radio that these «possible contacts cannot be interpreted as a recognition of the ecclesial structures» that have been imposed in China, and he expressed the hope to be able to «simply witness to all a sincere and determined will to dialogue, without concealing any of the truth of the Church, exactly as Christ founded it.»
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