HONG KONG (SE): “We could feel that in the heart of Pope Francis is a deep love as well as concern for China, and his strong wish for a pastoral visit to China like this time to Mongolia,” said Father Patrick Taveirne, after Pope Francis unexpectedly invited Cardinal-elect Stephen Chow Sau Yan, sj, and John Cardinal Tong Hon to the altar and expressed his concern for the Chinese people during a Mass at the Steppe Arena, Ulaanbaatar, on September 3. The Mass was the highlight of the August 31 to September 4 papal visit to Mongolia.
Father Taveirne shared his words of gratitude on the Facebook page of the Holy Spirit Study Centre on the same day. The missionary from the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and researcher of the Holy Spirit Study Centre was invited by the diocese to assist Bishop Chow to lead the Hong Kong delegation to Mongolia because of his deep interest in the missionary history of Mongolia and his experience in an exchange trip to the country last Christmas.
In another video message posted a few days later, Father Taveirne said Pope Francis has shown, through the example of his dialogue with Mongolian leaders, that peace can be achieved with respect, even though he cannot visit China.
The Holy Spirit Study Centre, in cooperation with Love Pilgrimage, organised a seven-day trip to Mongolia during the pastoral visit of Pope Francis. The delegation of around 30 people departed Hong Kong together with former bishop of Hong Kong, John Cardinal Tong Hon, Bishop Stephen Lee Bun-sang of Macau and Father Taveirne on August 31.
We could feel that in the heart of Pope Francis is a deep love as well as concern for China, and his strong wish for a pastoral visit to China like this time to Mongolia
Father Patrick Taveirne
Lucia Leung Mei-ling, a member of delegation, told the Sunday Examiner that she could not forget the joy when the pope gave his encouragement to the Chinese people, showing his deep love. “Papa, I love you,” she yelled as the pope paused while speaking.
She recalled that the Hong Kong delegation were the among first who cheered out loud. As they sat quite close to the altar, she believed the pope heard them and smiled.
“Being able to see Pope Francis at such a close distance is such a great blessing for us,” Leung said.
Leung thanked Bishop Chow and the organisers of the delegation for giving them a chance to attend the Mass in the Steppe Arena. She said it was the first time for her to see Pope Francis close up, as the Mass had a relatively small number of participant, for which she was really grateful.
She recalled that she first saw Pope Francis when he passed in a car, far away among a huge crowd of people, while she worked as a volunteer during World Youth Day in Poland in 2017.
Leung said she signed up for the delegation as she wanted to know more about the situation of the young but active Church in Mongolia. She said she could not communicate in the Mongolian language, but she spoke with some Filipino lay people there and found that there are around 300 Filipino Catholics in the country, dedicated to serving the Church.
Photo: Facebook page of Holy Spirit Study Centre
As a social worker of Mercy HK, Leung also met the family members of a victim of drug trafficking who came from Mongolia and was arrested in Hong Kong. She assured them of the group’s support in Hong Kong, which is another purpose she joined the delegation.
During the trip, the delegation was introduced to the various groups and missionaries working with the Church in Mongolia. On September 1, they visited the St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Antoon Mostaert Centre where they met Father Herve Kuafa, the music director of the Mass celebrated by Pope Francis, as well as sisters from the Missionaries of Charity.
On September 2, the delegation joined cardinals from different countries and government leaders in welcoming Pope Francis to Sükhbaatar Square.
That day, though a video posted by the Holy Spirit Study Centre, Bishop Chow expressed his concern for people in Hong Kong as it had just been lashed by Super Typhoon Saola on September 1.
After that, the delegation went to Terelj National Park for Mass and lunch. Then they visited traditional Monogolian gers and the Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue.
On September 4, the Hong Kong delegates went to Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral as well as an inauguration of a nearby Salesian training centre, where Hong Kong missionary, Salesian Father Paul Leung Kon-chiu, is in charge. He was assigned to Mongolia in 2006 and is the first missionary from Hong Kong to serve there.
The Salesian centre will provide vocational training and offer day care services for children.
On September 5, the delegation visited the Rainbow Centre, a day care centre for the physically-disadvantaged children set up by the Catholic Church. Giorgio Cardinal Marengo, apostolic prefect of Ulaanbaatar, was present during the gathering and gave them a warm welcome.
