HONG KONG (SE) : Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., bishop of Hong Kong, and Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing returned from their ad limina [formally ad limina apostolorum] visit to the Holy See with renewed encouragement after a week of dialogue with Vatican officials and an audience with Pope Leo XIV from June 15 to 19.
The visit, conducted together with Bishop Stephen Lee of Macau, provided an opportunity for the Church leaders to present reports on the life and mission of their dioceses, exchange views with Vatican dicasteries, and strengthen ties with the universal Church.
Explaining the significance of the ad limina visit, Bishop Ha described it as the official reporting of the local Church to the pope. Traditionally held every five years, the visits were delayed in recent years because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Jubilee Year and the transition between pontificates.
“Before going to the Vatican, we were asked to submit reports to different dicasteries according to their areas of responsibility,” Bishop Ha said. “When we met them, they had already read the reports. We gave a brief introduction and then engaged in dialogue, answering questions and sharing our own concerns.”
During their stay, the bishops of Hong Kong and Macau met with representatives of 16 Vatican dicasteries and offices. Discussions covered a broad range of topics, including evangelisation, family life, ecumenism, social development, and the pastoral challenges facing the Church in the region.
Cardinal Stephen described the ad limina visit as an opportunity for mutual understanding between local Churches and the Holy See. “It is a meeting of local bishops with the Holy See to know each other better and to improve our mutual understanding,” he said.
While some prefects were away on pastoral assignments, the bishops met with senior officials from various departments, including the Dicastery for Evangelisation and the Secretariat of State. According to Cardinal Stephen, Vatican officials showed particular interest in developments in Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China.
The bishops also shared the unique circumstances of their dioceses. Macau is preparing to celebrate the 450th anniversary of its establishment, marking its historic role as a missionary centre and mother Church for many dioceses across East Asia.
The bishops also visited the four Major Basilicas of Rome and presided over Masses.
The highlight of the visit was the audience with Pope Leo XIV. Both Cardinal Stephen and Bishop Ha noted the pope’s keen interest in the Church in China, continuing the concern shown by his predecessor, Pope Francis. The meeting with the pope, originally scheduled for half an hour, was ultimately extended to over an hour.
During the meeting, Cardinal Stephen extended an invitation for the pope to visit Hong Kong should he travel to East Asia in the future, as Pope Leo asked what he could do for the Hong Kong Church.
Cardinal Stephen recalled that he had also invited Pope Francis to visit Hong Kong. However, the late pope had expressed a particular desire to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Sheshan in Shanghai before making any visit to Hong Kong.
Bishop Ha encouraged Catholics to pray for the realisation of a papal visit. “Let us pray for this dream to come true, that a pope may come to Hong Kong and celebrate Mass here,” he said.
The only papal visit to Hong Kong took place in 1970, when Pope Paul VI stopped in the then British colony during an Asian tour. A future papal journey to East Asia could coincide with World Youth Day 2027 in South Korea.
A central highlight of the audience with the pope was the presentation of a calligraphy scroll to Pope Leo XIV featuring the Chinese characters, Gung Yi Tuhng Hahng [共議同行], referring to synodality. Cardinal Stephen explained the precise structural meaning behind the chosen characters, noting that the first two words [gung yi] mean conversing, discussing, and discerning together, while the last two words [tuhng hahng] signify walking and journeying together. Cardinal Stephen recalled that the Holy Father deeply appreciated this linguistic precision, viewing the traditional scroll as a beautiful expression of the universal Church’s unity in diversity.
During their meetings with Vatican officials, the bishops also addressed questions concerning the situation of the Church in Hong Kong and Macau. Cardinal Stephen emphasised that, unlike some media reports, the Catholic Church continues to enjoy religious freedom in the region and can carry out its mission without interference.
“We have no restrictions in our pastoral work,” he said, noting that the diocese continues to operate a large network of government-subsidised Catholic schools while freely conducting religious education, evangelisation, and charitable activities.
The delegation also engaged in extensive discussions with the General Secretariat of the Synod, sharing the Hong Kong Diocese’s experience in promoting synodality at the local level. Among the initiatives highlighted were media evangelisation efforts, the growing participation of lay faithful and women in diocesan leadership, active interreligious dialogue, and the effective functioning of parish pastoral councils.
Vatican officials recognised the diligent efforts, explicitly reaffirming that synodality must be dynamically enculturated into specific local contexts rather than copying a single global model.
Reflecting on the profound impact of the entire pilgrimage, Bishop Ha concluded that the true value of the ad limina visit lies in breaking isolation. “It reminds local Catholics that walking together means they are never just having a discussion among themselves, but are fundamentally linked to the global, universal flock of Christ,” he said.
