HONG KONG (Agencies): Pope Francis appealed for prayers for people in government and for politicians that they “may work for the common good.” He made this call during his homily at Mass in the Casa Santa Marta on September 16. Although the appeal was in reference to the recent political cricis in the Italian government, for the Church in Hong Kong it came as a timely reminder that remedies an ailing social and political system.
A day earlier, on September 15, Joseph Cardinal Zen Ze-kiun, the former bishop of Hong Kong announced on his Facebook page that he would pray for Hong Kong through the intercession of Our Lady. “Today is the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. In this moment that our freedom, dignity, and justice is being deprived here in Hong Kong, let us, have a pilgrimage to visit three churches and pray to our Lady, who understands the meaning of sorrow, to accompany us in this journey of suffering and ask for her intercession,” his statement read.
The pope said St. Paul, in his letter to Timothy (1 Timothy 2:1-8), calls us to pray for everyone, “for kings and for all in authority” and that it should be done “without anger or argument.” St. Paul adds that we do this so “that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.”
In his homily, Pope Francis referred to the recent crisis in the Italian government and said that, “It is my wish, then, ‘that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.’ Discussion must occur, but without crushing others. Rather, each must pray for others, for those who have a different opinion than ours.”
The pope commented on criticisms that this or that politician as “too communist” or “corrupt” and urged prayers rather than political discussions. The pope said some people say “politics is dirty,” but Pope Paul VI held that it is “the highest form of charity.”
Pope Francis said, “It may be dirty, just like any profession can be dirty… We are the ones who dirty something but it is not so by nature. I believe that we must convert our hearts and pray for politicians of all stripes, all of them! Pray for people in government!”
The pope said he thought it would be a wonderful thing if politicians and leaders prayed for the people they govern and people prayed for their leaders.
More than 200 people turned up at the Christ the King Chapel in Causeway Bay, where the cardinal led the first prayer session. Alluding to the public ordinance requiring public meetings of more than 50 persons, or public processions of more than 30 persons to have police permission, Cardinal Zen reaffirmed that it was just a prayer service.
“We have just come here individually and you go to the next church your own way,” he told the crowd. “We are not walking together.” After praying part of the rosary and the Way of the Cross, the gathering dispersed and proceeded to the second station, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Wanchai, and finally on to the last stop at St. Joseph’s Church in Central.
Some participants held up a sign saying: “What can we do when our right to peaceful demonstration has been taken away?”
Ms Ng, who took part in the prayers, said she did not think going out and praying was unlawful and warranted police action. “I pray because the government tried to implement the (extradition) bill at the beginning and the police beat and arrest our young people irrationally,” she said.
Originally, the Civil Human Rights Front had planned a peaceful march from Causeway Bay to Central, but police refused to issue a letter of no objection, compelling the group to shelve their plans. However, this did not stop thousands of people from gathering and marching anyway and what began as peaceful protests descended into chaos and violence on the streets of the city as the afternoon wore on into evening.
Media reported that violence broke out at the nearby government offices at Harcourt Road. There were also reports that water cannon and tear gas had been used against protesters who were throwing petrol bombs and bricks. There were brawls between pro-government supporters and protestors in different parts of the city.
The police released a statement the following day condemning “unlawful protests and assemblies.” They also expressed “severe condemnation of all such violent acts, which disregarded law and order.”
The extradition bill triggered a much wider movement encompassing deeper issues and protesters have urged Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, to address other demands, including an independent investigation into the police use of force and the implementation of universal suffrage.
The South China Morning Post reported on September 17 that Lam would begin “open dialogue platform (to) which we would invite people from all walks of life to, to express their views to us.”
