VATICAN - The Pope's caress to Chinese Catholics: "I would like to meet with local bishops and the people of God who are so faithful"

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - A people of "great faith" who are also "teachers of hope", is the caress that Pope Francis sends to all Chinese people, renewing his desire to make an Apostolic Journey to the Asian country.

The words of the Pontiff were expressed during an interview given to Father Pedro Chia, director of the Press Office of the Chinese Province of the Society of Jesus, recorded in the library of the Apostolic Palace in May and made public only today.

Francis would like to go to the shrine of Sheshan, in Shanghai: "In front of my office at Casa Santa Marta I have the image of Our Lady of Sheshan", he reveals. "We celebrate it today", the interviewer reminds him, specifying that May 24, the day of the commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians, is the feast day of the Marian shrine where the Supreme Pontiff would like to pray in person.

Not only that: in China, the Pope continues, “I would like to meet with local bishops and the people of God who are so faithful. They have gone through many things and remained faithful”. To the interviewer, who asks what message the successor of Peter would send to young Chinese Catholics today, Francis responds with one word: “Hope”. But he immediately clarifies: “It seems tautological to me to give a message of hope to a people who are masters of hope and of patience in waiting.

This, highlights the Bishop of Rome, “is a very beautiful thing. The people of China are a great people who must not waste their heritage”. On the contrary, “they must patiently carry forward their legacy”, he concludes. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 9/8/2024)

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