HONG KONG (Agencies): A presentation of a volume of commentaries in Chinese on the Magisterium of the Pope during the 10 years of his pontificate published by La Civiltà Cattolica took place on May 13, at the headquarters of the Jesuit-affiliated journal in Rome. The Magisterium of Pope Francis- A guide to reading his Encyclicals and Apostolic Exhortations [싱唎렘셌몹컨斂祁돔 – 唎林繫謐섟활謐敦뗍寧켓], by Jesuit Father Antonio Spadaro is the result of the workshop on the three encyclicals and the five apostolic exhortations published by Pope Francis in the first 10 years of his pontificate.
“It seems important to me to offer Chinese-speaking readers a sort of guide to reading these important texts for a deeper understanding of their message. The readers we hope to reach, in a special way, are the pastors of the people of God, priests and bishops, and so also catechists and those in the Christian community who have the task of guidance,” Father Spadaro said.
The event was hosted by Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation.
In his address during the presentation of the book, Cardinal Tagle said, “This book will be received by many members of Chinese Catholic communities, both in the country and in other parts of the world, as a true gift… The Chinese Catholic communities follow the suggestions and pastoral indications that come to them from the Church of Rome and its bishop” with love, affection and immediacy, the cardinal said.
“The many reports on the Church in China published by Agenzia Fides show how, for at least 20 years, Chinese Catholic parishes have been carrying out their daily journey, always following the suggestions and guidelines of the Ordinary Magisterium of the Successor of Peter. For them it is a gift and a sign of communion with the universal Church,” he said.
It seems important to me to offer Chinese-speaking readers a sort of guide to reading these important texts for a deeper understanding of their message. The readers we hope to reach, in a special way, are the pastors of the people of God, priests and bishops, and so also catechists and those in the Christian community who have the task of guidance
Father Antonio Spadaro
Cardinal Tagle pointed out that “In China, there is a whole living network of prayers, liturgies, catechesis and pastoral initiatives directly inspired by the pope’s ordinary magisterium… It is a lively and intense reality of faith, which lives and expresses a daily communion of faith with the Successor of Peter and the whole universal Church, even if it is generally ignored by the media when they speak of the Chinese Catholicism.”
The cardinal explained the adherence of the Chinese Catholics to the papal magisterium with numerous examples from the life of the Church in China.
In 2004, when Pope St. John Paul II proclaimed the Year of the Eucharist, in the masses of many Chinese parishes, the priests explained the reasons for the Year of the Eucharist by commenting on the apostolic letter of indiction, Mane nobiscum Domine [Stay with us Lord].
In 2008, when Pope Benedict XVI launched the initiative of a special year dedicated to St. Paul, communities and dioceses in China launched an impressive series of initiatives dedicated to the Apostle of the Gentiles, though it must be acknowledged that the pope’s suggestion was not accepted with the same enthusiasm in other parts of the world.
When Pope Benedict convened the Year for Priests, his letter to priests was presented and studied in the Diocese of Jinzhong at the end of June 2009, while Bishop Jean-Baptiste Wang Jin gave each priest a copy in Chinese of the writings of St. Jean-Marie Vianney.
The many reports on the Church in China published by Agenzia Fides show how, for at least 20 years, Chinese Catholic parishes have been carrying out their daily journey, always following the suggestions and guidelines of the Ordinary Magisterium of the Successor of Peter. For them it is a gift and a sign of communion with the universal Church
Luis Cardinal Tagle
The same was true when Pope Benedict announced the Year of Faith [11 October 2012 to 24 November 2013]. The apostolic letter, Porta fidei, was read and deepened during study days organised in the dioceses of Nanchong, Sichuan province; Fengxian and Liaoning. Preparation courses were organised for catechists, “called to transmit the proclamation of the gospel with particular dedication during the Year of Faith” and Bishop Paul Pei Junmin dedicated a pastoral letter to the Year of Faith and urged the faithful to recite, reflect and deepen the Creed.
With Pope Francis, Chinese Catholics manifest with simplicity their desire to walk in faith by following the help and support of the teachings of the pope. During the Holy Year of Mercy, many people passed through the Holy Doors of the cathedrals, and many bishops have published pastoral letters to revive Pope Francis’ words on mercy.
Cardinal Tagle added a recent example from the beginning of this month of May: A special year dedicated to catechism and catechists which began in the diocese of Xiamen. All those who attended the Mass marking the beginning of this special year received a Chinese copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
The cardinal pointed out that all these are “signs that even difficult and painful situations have strengthened the affection of Chinese Catholics for the Successor of Peter.
“It was also seen during the first months of the pandemic, when the voice and face of Pope Francis entered the homes of many Chinese Catholics every day.
In Matteo Ricci, it was precisely gratitude for the gift of faith that led him to meet the men and women of China and recognise them as brothers. The volume that we present also follows the path of familiarity and sympathy with the Chinese people that Matteo Ricci opened
Cardinal Tagle
“The liturgies and moments of prayer celebrated by the Bishop of Rome were broadcast live on television every day during this time of trial, when the cities were blocked and the people of God could not go to Mass.
“Groups of young Chinese Catholics, thanks to their digital skills, managed to send images of the pope’s Masses to homes, as well as simultaneous translations into Chinese of his homilies.
“The published book is a gift that will also strengthen the special affection that binds Pope Francis to Chinese Catholics and to all the Chinese people, according to Cardinal Tagle.
In Pope Francis’ message to Chinese Catholics and the universal Church on 26 September 2018, he made it known that Chinese Catholics are present daily “in my prayers” and on behalf of the entire Catholic Church, he expressed his gratitude and admiration “for the gift of your fidelity, of your constancy in the trial and of your deeply rooted confidence in the Providence of God, even when certain events have proved to be particularly adverse and difficult.”
Quoting the conciliar declaration, Nostra Aetate, Cardinal Tagle said the Church, precisely “in her task of promoting unity and love among men, indeed among nations, considers above all what men have in common and what draws them to fellowship” (NA1). “We cannot truly call on God, the Father of all, if we refuse to treat in a brotherly way any man, created as he is in the image of God” (NA5).
He recalled that Pope Francis, at the inauguration of the new Chinese edition of La Civiltà Cattolica, pointed to Matteo Ricci as a reference model for cultural work, he left Italy, from Macerata, to go and love China without pretensions, and without plans for conquest, and by becoming Chinese himself
This universal fraternity, also referred to in the encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, was the reason for the human and Christian journey of the great Jesuit missionary, Venerable Matteo Ricci, who died and was buried in Beijing 413 years ago, on 11 May 1610.
The cardinal commented that “In Matteo Ricci, it was precisely gratitude for the gift of faith that led him to meet the men and women of China and recognise them as brothers. The volume that we present also follows the path of familiarity and sympathy with the Chinese people that Matteo Ricci opened.”
He recalled that Pope Francis, at the inauguration of the new Chinese edition of La Civiltà Cattolica, pointed to Matteo Ricci as a reference model for cultural work, he left Italy, from Macerata, to go and love China without pretensions, and without plans for conquest, and by becoming Chinese himself.
“This is the path on which Chinese Catholics can also walk in the present and the future. They are called to joyfully bear witness to the love of Jesus for all their people, to the love of Jesus for all.
“While carrying out his mission of bearing witness to Christ in China, Matteo Ricci also taught his new Chinese brothers how to use astrolabes, or built globes for them.
“Even today, Catholics in China, as in the whole world, are called to show that the companions of Jesus seek only to bring good things and share them with everyone for peace and the joy of living,” the cardinal remarked.
