BEIJING, Jan 2, 02 (FIDES/CWNews.com) - Despite government restrictions, hundreds of faithful Catholics attended the January 2 funeral of Bishop Matthias Pei Shangde of Beijing, the Fides news service has reported.
The funeral for Bishop Pei-- who was recognized by the Holy See but not by the Beijing government-- was held in the village of Zhangjiapu, outside Beijing. Police had announced that only local residents could attend the service, and official spokesmen put the attendance at 200-300. But independent eyewitnesses said that at least 3,000 people crowded into the church, with almost an equal number outside.
Although the Chinese government never recognized Bishop Pei, he was wearing the emblems of his office as a Catholic bishop as his body was laid out for the thousands of mourners who paid their last respects in Zhangjiapu. At his funeral, a priest of the "official" government-recognized Church paid homage to the deceased bishop for his efforts to unite the Catholic faithful.
Catholic World News Service - Daily News Briefs
2. januar 2002