VATICAN (Agenzia Fides): Calling the people of China people of “great faith” who are also “teachers of hope,” Pope Francis renewed his desire to make an apostolic journey to the country during an interview with Father Pedro Chia, director of the press office of the Chinese Province of the Society of Jesus.
The pope expressed his hope to visit the shrine of Sheshan, in Shanghai, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians. “In front of my office at Casa Santa Marta I have the image of Our Lady of Sheshan,”, he remarked. He added, “I would like to meet with local bishops and the people of God who are so faithful. They have gone through many things and remained faithful.”
He told Father Chia that he wanted to send to young Chinese Catholics a message of hope. “It seems tautological to me to give a message of hope to a people who are masters of hope and of patience in waiting. [This] is a very beautiful thing,” the pope added.
Pope Francis said, “The people of China are a great people who must not waste their heritage.” On the contrary, “they must patiently carry forward their legacy,” he concluded.
