Outspoken bishop Joseph Zen Ze-kiun formally took the helm of Hong Kong's Catholic Church yesterday and told his followers that he would not 'hide behind a wall of silence'. He also prayed to God to make him 'behave' and grant him the wisdom of 'when to speak and when to keep silent'. Bishop Zen, 70, was inaugurated as the head of Hong Kong's 350,000 Catholics in a ceremony attended by 1,000 people at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Caine Road, Mid-Levels, including 200 priests from Europe, Africa and Asia. Bishop Zen, who is renowned for his vocal criticism of both the Beijing and Hong Kong governments, told followers that he would not hesitate to speak out when necessary. 'Sometimes we have to obey and sometimes we must criticise, and it is not easier to criticise than obey. Honesty does not always please,' he said. 'A religious leader should be careful in deciding when to remain silent and be sure to say something useful when deciding to speak,' he said. 'In this way he will avoid saying things that would be better not said or leaving unsaid things that ought to be said.' Bishop Zen cited the life of Christ, whom he said was not 'always politically correct' and dared to defend truth when compromise was not possible. 'Negligent religious leaders are often afraid to speak freely and say what needs to be said for fear of losing favour with people,' he said. Bishop Zen became the leader of the Hong Kong diocese after the death of Cardinal John Baptist Wu Cheng-chung from bone marrow cancer last month. Gao Siren, the director of the Beijing Liaison Office in Hong Kong, has said the new leader of the Church should follow Cardinal Wu's example as a pragmatic and 'well-behaved' man. The outspoken Bishop Zen told followers they must pray to the Lord to give him wisdom because all leaders must be wise to govern. In a recent radio programme, the bishop said he would pray every day for the Lord to grant wisdom to Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa. Bishop Zen's succession has raised concerns over the sometimes stormy relationship between the Church and the SAR government. He has already clashed with the authorities on controversial issues such as the Falun Gong spiritual group, and right of abode. Last month the bishop criticised the proposed anti-subversion law.