HONG KONG (SE ): While meeting the media outside the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception after a November 4 Mass in thanksgiving for his elevation to the cardinalate, Stephen Cardinal Chow, SJ, said he will be a bridge for clearer communication between the Vatican and China. He also expressed the hope that the five-day visit of Bishop Joseph Li Shan of the Diocese of Beijing will lead to deeper understanding and greater human connections.
Asked how he would improve communication between the Vatican and Beijing, the cardinal responded, “The mission assigned to me by the pope is to improve communication. It does not mean that there is any hostility between the two sides, absolutely not, but that we need to listen more. It is possible for certain misunderstandings to arise as a result of assumptions on both sides. Both you and I will have assumptions when we communicate with each other … So when we have more chances to listen more carefully, the assumptions will not affect us.”
Returning from the Synod of Bishops in Rome, he believes that listening is a crucial part of the communication process. “How to listen is also something to be learned in the Church. We are not only a preaching Church but also a listening Church. It is hoped that between China and the Vatican, there will be more mutual listening for better communications,” he said.
Cardinal Chow explained that Bishop Li’s visit in mid-November will be to gain a better understanding of the Diocese of Hong Kong. The bishop will visit different departments of the diocese, educational organisations, as well as the Holy Spirit Seminary, where he will learn more about the life of the seminarians. He added that he also had a happy time visiting the seminaries in Beijing earlier this year, which deepened the understanding among the brothers.
Everything starts with humanity first, not by structure or by policy, [but] human connection. And this time when Bishop Li Shan comes down to Hong Kong, that’s also confirming the human connection
Cardinal Chow
“It is important that we are connected with the Church in China and the Beijing diocese,” he said, adding that he could feel the same kind of human connection when he stayed in Beijing earlier this year. “Everything starts with humanity first, not by structure or by policy, [but] human connection. And this time when Bishop Li Shan comes down to Hong Kong, that’s also confirming the human connection.”
Cardinal Chow explained, “With that connection, we can walk together. We can talk about how to strengthen the structure, how to make some policy, and even internal policy in the long term.” He added that the visit will help bear witness to the love of God, which is not an abstract concept but a remedy for many of the problems.
In light of the Gay Games that took place in Hong Kong, the cardinal was asked about social inclusion for sexual minorities. “Hong Kong is a pluralistic society, and we have to respect different people in this society of pluralism. Some people are not comfortable with their presence. I can understand that, but … let’s give some space for others,” he said.
“Hong Kong has been an inclusive society. We have to continue to respect different voices,” he added.
Further, Cardinal Chow was asked about the Church’s role as a healing station as mentioned in his homily. In his view, there are many wounds to be healed after the movement in 2019. These wounds have only been covered up, and they require an initiative to communicate and seek reconciliation, as well as an attitude of acknowledging one’s own faults.
