Key Points
- The Vatican hosted an international conference on May 21, marking the 100th anniversary of the first plenary council of the Catholic Church in China.
- Pope Francis and other key speakers emphasized the historical significance and future challenges of the church in China, advocating for increased synodality and dialogue.
- The conference highlighted the importance of inculturation and the church’s mission to evangelize, not colonize.
The Vatican recently held an international conference to commemorate the centenary of the first plenary council of the Catholic Church in China. This significant event, which took place on May 21, brought together prominent figures such as Pope Francis, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Bishop Joseph Shen Bin to discuss the history and future of the Catholic Church in China.
Pope Francis addressed the attendees via video and highlighted the council’s role in fostering synodality and harmony within the church while also paying tribute to the work of early missionaries like Matteo Ricci and Archbishop Celso Costantini.
Bishop Shen Bin, president of the Council of Chinese Bishops, reflected on the historical challenges and privileges the church faced due to its associations with Western powers. He emphasized the need for the church in China to continue its journey of Sinicization, aligning with modern Chinese society and culture.
Cardinal Parolin underscored the importance of direct dialogue between the Holy See and Chinese authorities, noting that the 1924 council’s principles still serve as a model for mission countries today. The conference concluded with calls for ongoing efforts to blend the church’s mission with the values of Chinese culture, ensuring a future of peace and collaboration.
America Magazine reports:
Pope Francis recalled that the council fathers followed the path pioneered some 300 years earlier by Matteo Ricci, S.J., the Italian Jesuit missionary known in China as Li Madou, who worked in China from 1582 to 1610 and is buried in Beijing.
He paid tribute to “the important contribution” made by the Italian Archbishop Celso Costantini, the first papal delegate to China, who, by decision of Pope Pius XI, organized and presided over the council, and reaffirmed that the church’s mission was “to evangelize, not to colonize.” Thanks to his work, the pope said, “the communion between the Holy See and the church in China manifested its fruits, fruits of good for all the Chinese people.”
“The council of Shanghai did not only serve to move beyond the erroneous approaches that had prevailed in previous times,” Pope Francis said. “It was not a question of ‘changing strategy’ but of following paths that best conformed to the nature of the church and her mission.” The council fathers, he said, “trusting only in the grace of Christ Himself, and in His attraction, looked to the future. And their future is our present.”
Chinese Catholics “bear witness to their faith through works of mercy and charity, and in their witness, they give a real contribution to the harmony of social coexistence, to the building of the common home,” Pope Francis said. “Those who follow Jesus love peace and find themselves together with all those who work for peace, in a time in which we see inhuman forces at work that seem to want to accelerate the end of the world.”
Read the full article here.
| Themes | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Historical Significance | Acknowledges historical milestones and lessons | Potential for historical grievances to resurface |
| Sinicization of the Church | Promotes cultural integration and local leadership | Risk of state interference in religious matters |
| Sino-Vatican Relations | Encourages direct dialogue and collaboration | Ongoing challenges in achieving mutual understanding |
Questions to Consider
- How can the Catholic Church balance its mission of evangelization with the need to respect and integrate into Chinese culture?
- What are the potential risks and benefits of increased Sino-Vatican dialogue and cooperation?
- How can the principles of the 1924 council be applied to modern challenges faced by the Catholic Church globally?
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