China-Vatican
Awaiting Matteo Ricci
by Gianni Valente
Matteo Ricci
Meanwhile, in confirmation of the impasse, all procedures in recent months for the appointment of new bishops seem to have slowed down (although Don Paul Meng Ningyou could be ordained as coadjutor bishop of the diocese of Taiyuan before Christmas). Also behind schedule is the convening of the next Conference of Catholic representatives, the assembly of delegates of the dioceses registered with the State Administration of Religious Affairs, which meets periodically to distribute posts in the official bodies of the Chinese Church, including the College of Bishops (a body not recognized by the Holy See that includes all the Chinese bishops approved by the government). Liu Bainian would like to elect the controversial Ma Yinglin as president of the Chinese Bishops. But everyone knows that the felt sensus fidei of the Chinese Catholics – bishops, priests, religious and laity – would not accept the leadership of a bishop consecrated without apostolic mandate. And precisely the on-going political maneuvering around Ma Yinglin is hampering the possibility that his request for recognition by the Holy See will gain quick acceptance.
In this phase of uncertainty individual and group initiatives are finding room and may provide new departure points and opportunities for open dialogue between China and the Holy See. The Mass in Italian celebrated by a Chinese priest on 26 October in Shanghai Cathedral, on the initiative of the local Italian community, with the contribution of a Shanghai choir who also sang such popular Marian hymns as Mira il tuo popolo was such an initiative. Another was the academic conference on religions in the contemporary world, held in Beijing from 14-17 October, where members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences debated in full freedom with Italian scholars from the University of Macerata and the Catholic University of Milan. The conference – which was attended by the Bishop of Macerata, Claudio Giuliodori – also provided an opportunity for an exchange of views on initiatives in the pipeline for the four hundredth anniversary of the death of Matteo Ricci. The anniversary of the dies natalis of the great Jesuit missionary, who died in 1610, will again provide the Apostolic See with the occasion to reiterate that “also the Catholic Church of today is not asking China and its political authorities for any privilege, but only to resume dialogue, to reach a relationship of mutual respect and deeper knowledge” (John Paul II, in his message to the conference on “Matteo Ricci: for dialogue between China and the West”, 24 October 2001).