Cardinal Zen and five others denied charges of allegedly failing to register a pro-democracy legal relief fund with Hong Kong police. The group awaits trial in September.
'This year I urge Christians of all traditions everywhere to pray for Hong Kong especially, and the Church in China, as well as the Uyghurs, Tibetans and others facing persecution in China, during that Week of Prayer, and to pray especially for Cardinal Zen on 24 May itself as we seek the prayers of Mary Help of Christians,' wrote Cardinal Charles Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, Myanmar, and President of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences.
Pope Benedict XVI chose this date because it is the feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians, 'who is venerated with great devotion at the Marian Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai.'
‘With the complete elimination of freedom of speech and press and assembly, religious freedom will be the next target in Hong Kong because the CCP wants to control everything in the society.’
Cardinal Zen’s arrest ‘should not be read as “a disavowal” of the agreement between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China on the appointments of bishops,’ said Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
Cardinal Zen’s arrest has been described as a ‘new low for a Chinese Communist Party regime that had already sunk to shocking levels of inhumanity, barbarity, cruelty and mendacity.’