Retired Hong Kong cardinal blasts Vatican over claims he caused ‘confusion and controversy’

Retired Hong Kong cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun hit back at the Vatican on Monday after it blamed him for creating “confusion and controversy” by accusing the Holy See of “selling out” mainland Chinese Catholics to normalise ties with Beijing.

In a strongly worded statement, the outspoken clergyman said he did not need sympathy and would continue to speak his mind without fear while he still could.

Zen, a prominent pro-democracy activist, caused a stir last month after he revealed in a Facebook post details of his trip to the Vatican, where he met Pope Francis to discuss his worries about the faithful being suppressed by Beijing.

Vatican rebukes retired Hong Kong cardinal after remarks on ‘selling out’ of Chinese Catholics

After expressing concern at the Vatican’s request for two mainland Chinese bishops to step down and make way for Beijing-sanctioned prelates, Zen claimed the pontiff had been kept in the dark about the matter.

Without naming Zen, the Vatican issued a statement last week to deny such claims, adding it was regrettable that some people in the church had fostered “confusion and controversy”.

“Some people have asked me not to talk so much and just pray ... They were probably worried about me becoming a target, but I’m not afraid at all,” Zen wrote on Monday.