Good reception for Pope Francis in China, says Hong Kong’s bishop

14 Aug. 2013: The Chinese media has reported on Pope Francis in “an honest, objective way” in these first four months of his pontificate “and that is already unusual”, according to Cardinal John Tong Hon, the bishop of Hong Kong. The reporting is “neutral”, he said during his recent visit to Rome. Pope Francis “has made a good impression” on Chinese Catholics, he added. He recalled that when he returned to Hong Kong after the conclave last March “many people” came up to him in church, or stopped him on the street, “to thank God that the cardinals elected such a good pope”. They told him, “It’s God’s blessing for us”. The Chinese cardinal believes Pope Francis has started his ministry very well with his spontaneous, human approach to people and his “great concern for the poor”. He is particularly happy with the way Pope Francis has spoken, on a number of occasions, about China and the Church in China, reaching out in a friendly, open way.
Despite the present stalemate in Sino-Vatican relations, the cardinal is optimistic about the future of this relationship. He said “I am always optimistic that with new leadership in the Vatican and Beijing, a gradual development can take place in relations between China and the Holy See.”
He recalled that when he bade farewell to Pope Francis as he left the Vatican for Hong Kong, the Pope told him “The Church in China is in my heart.”
Source: Ucan