Synod: China’s Christians an encouragement for all
(Vatican Radio) “The prayers and joy of being a Christian in China are appreciated
by God and encourage all the Christians in the world” reads a letter issued Tuesday
by the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelisation.
The message is a response
to a letter sent to Pope Benedict and Synod participants by mainland Chinese Bishop
Lucas Li Jingfeng, of Fengxiang (Shaanxi) and read at the opening of the three
week gathering.
Below find the full text of the letter:
Vatican
City, October 23 Most Reverend Excellency, With great pleasure, the Synodal
Fathers celebrating the XIII Ordinary Synod of Bishops on New Evangelization and the
Transmission of Faith received your Letter, with which you wished to make your voice
heard from within the Democratic Republic of China. Your intention was greatly appreciated,
notwithstanding the fact that there are some Bishops coming from Hong Kong and Taiwan
among the Synodal Fathers. The Synod has come to learn with satisfaction, giving
thanks to God, that the Catholic faithful of China keep their faith, piety and sincerity
firm towards the Holy Mother Church. We know that the suffering, the prayers and joy
of being a Christian in China are appreciated by God and encourage all the Christians
in the world. Sunday, October 7th, the Holy Father, during a solemn Eucharistic
Liturgy, opened the XIII Synodal Assembly, commemorated the 50th anniversary of the
beginning of Vatican Council II, and began the Year of the Faith, which will end on
the Feast of Christ the King in 2013. Even if you and other Catholic bishops in China
could not intervene, we considered you as spiritually present. We ask all the Bishops,
Priests and faithful of this great Nation to live the Year of the Faith with generosity
and commitment. We thus recommend that the evangelization of the Chinese People and
the reevangelization of all those who have become lukewarm towards or lost their faith,
be taken to heart in a special way. The Synod of Bishops renews to you and to the
entire Church in China the wish for all good in the hope that in the future the Bishops
coming from your noble Nation may participate at the synodal works. The Holy Father
Benedict XVI sends a special blessing to you, to your priests and faithful, as well
as to the entire, wellloved Church in China. Presidents Delegate Secretary General