Vatican briefing is postponed
Clash of schedules prevents Bishop Zen from giving updates on the political row
A proposed meeting between the head of Hong Kong's Catholic Church and Vatican leaders over the controversial national security legislation has failed to materialise, due to a clash of schedules.
But it is understood that papal officials, who have expressed concern over the bill, was 'relieved' that the Hong Kong government had deferred it after making further amendments.
Bishop Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, the outspoken head of the Church in Hong Kong who is now in Rome to attend an international religious conference, said the meeting had not happened because a senior Vatican official he was scheduled to meet was out of town.
Bishop Zen had planned to meet Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, head of the Vatican's Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, to discuss recent political and social controversies in Hong Kong, including the row over Article 23.
But Bishop Zen said he was not disappointed that he was unable to brief the Vatican on the issue directly. 'I didn't come to Rome to fight for something. I only came to attend a conference,' the bishop said. He added that he did not intend to try to meet the pope or other Vatican officials.
The Vatican is understood to be watching the development of the bill. Officials are apparently concerned it could affect links between the Hong Kong Church and its mainland counterparts.
A source close to the Vatican suggested papal officials welcomed the government's recent amendments and the fact that the bill had been shelved for consultation.
'The Hong Kong government is going down a positive way and [the Holy See is] now feeling relieved about that,' the source said.
Meanwhile, Bishop Zen said the government should listen to the public when reintroducing the bill. 'It is time for everyone to pray, calm down and work together to see what we can achieve,' he said.
