Having witnessed global events that test our resilience, and moments of hope and progress in the year 2023, we attempt to revisit the landmarks that shaped the life of the Church in Hong Kong in the year that fades into history.
The year began with the news of the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on 31 December 2022, at 95-years-old, 10 years after he renounced the papacy. For seven years and 10 months, he led the Church as the 264th successor of St. Peter. His decades-long leadership in the Church as a cardinal and then as pope, will certainly be fondly remembered.
Pope Francis, who was elected pope on 13 March 2013, celebrated a decade in office as pope in March 2023. His papacy has been characterised by a profound emphasis on mercy, compassion, and social justice. Hailing from the peripheries, the pope attempts to reach out to the peripheries, especially through his apostolic journeys. In August-September, during his visit to Mongolia, he famously brought up to the altar the retired and current bishops of Hong Kong, John Cardinal Tong and Cardinal-elect Stephen Chow s.j., and clasped their hands while sending his greetings to China, calling the nation’s citizens a “noble” people and asking Catholics in China to be “good Christians and good citizens.”
Another notable event was then-Bishop Stephen’s unprecedented pastoral trip to the Diocese of Beijing in April, together with a delegation from the Diocese of Hong Kong. The visit was in keeping with the Diocese of Hong Kong’s stated mission to serve as a “Bridge Church”. As a reciprocal gesture of goodwill, Bishop Li Shan visited the Diocese of Hong Kong in mid-November. During Bishop Li Shan’s visit to Hong Kong, Cardinal Stephen said he dreamed of a day when bishops, priests and faithful from different parts of greater China could pray together.
A significant event for the Diocese of Hong Kong occurred on September 30 when Pope Francis created Bishop Stephen a cardinal. He was ordained as the ninth Bishop of Hong Kong less than two years ago on 4 December 2021. This appointment shows the Holy See’s closeness and attention to the bishop, the diocese, and the people of Hong Kong.
More than 300 young people from the Diocese of Hong Kong participated in the World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal, from August 1 to 6. “We hope that the 300 young people will be like Mary and become a living monstrance of the Eucharist who bring peace, joy and love of Jesus to others through their sharings,” was how vicar general, Father Paul Kam Po-wai, evaluated the participation of the youth in the WYD.
The most significant event for the Church in 2023 was the Synod on Synodality launched by Pope Francis in October 2021. After two years of consultation and discernment, its first assembly took place from October 4 to 29 in Rome. Cardinal Stephen was a member of the assembly. It aimed to address the challenges and opportunities facing the Church in the 21st century, such as governance, participation, evangelisation, ecumenism, interreligious dialogue, social justice, and the environment.
“THANK YOU” to the Lord for all that has passed and a firm “YES!” to all that is yet to come! jose, CMF
