HONG KONG (SE): “Let us remember that this is a pilgrimage of prayer. For the people in Hong Kong who are unable to travel to Rome, let’s give their blessings to the cardinal as well,” said Father Joseph Chan Wing-chiu, who led the Hong Kong delegation to Rome for the September 30 consistory at which Pope Francis is scheduled to create 21 new cardinals, including Cardinal-elect Stephen Chow, sj, Bishop of Hong Kong.
Cardinal-elect Chow was accompanied by Father Peter Choy Wai-man, vicar general, as they left for the consistory in Rome on September 25. After the consistory, he will attend the Synod of Bishops from October 4 to 29 before returning to Hong Kong early in November.
Around 30 members of the delegation departed Hong Kong on September 27. At a briefing on September 17 at Grand Building, Central, Father Chan said Hong Kong was fortunate to have had several bishops who had been created cardinals, showing the Holy See’s concern for China. He thanked God for choosing the diocese’s leader and encouraged people to pray for those chosen.
He prayed for the Holy Spirit to come upon the participants so that they might experience the unity of the universal Church during the trip.
Let us remember that this is a pilgrimage of prayer. For the people in Hong Kong who are unable to travel to Rome, let’s give their blessings to the cardinal as well
Father Joseph Chan Wing-chiu
Father Chan expressed delight seeing several participants who had been part of previous delegations and had experience in dealing with unexpected situations, and that Father Fabio Favata of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, would be their translator in Italy.
Father Favata said he was happy to be invited to join the delegation and accompany the lay people from Hong Kong on a pilgrimage to Rome and Italy.
Visits are planned to various cathedrals and basilicas. The group will also go to Macerata, the hometown of Venerable Father Matteo Ricci, to pray for his beatification.
In arranging the pilgrimage, the diocese partnered with Love Pilgrimage, an organisation that has been organising pilgrimages since 2019. Evelyn Chan So-ping, the person in charge of the pilgrimage to Rome, had arranged a similar tour for John Cardinal Tong Hon’s elevation to the College of Cardinals in 2012.
For Joyce Chang Sau-han it was her fourth time joining a delegation for a consistory. She recalls the excitement in 1988 when John Baptist Cardinal Wu Cheng-chung became the first cardinal from Hong Kong. As many as a hundred people joined.
She is happy to see Bishop Chow receive the red hat as she appreciates his new style of managing the Church.
