Pope: ‘Chinese Catholics bear witness to faith in charity and mercy’

By Devin Watkins

The Pontifical Urban University of Rome organized a conference on Tuesday to mark the 100th anniversary of Concilium Sinense, the first and only Council of the Chinese Catholic Church, which was held in Shanghai in May and June 1924.

Pope Francis sent a video message to participants attending the event, calling the anniversary “a precious occasion for many reasons.”

He stressed that the Council of Sinense marked an important step forward for the Catholic Church in China.

“The Holy Spirit,” he said, “brought them together, allowed harmony to grow among them, led them on paths that many of them would not have imagined, overcoming even perplexities and resistance . »

At the time, Council participants came from faraway lands and many resisted the idea of ​​allowing Chinese-born priests and bishops to lead dioceses.

During the Council of Sinense, however, they agreed that the Church in China must have “a Chinese face”, because “the announcement of the salvation of Christ can only reach every human community and every person if it is expressed in his “mother tongue””.

Christ safeguards the faith of Chinese Catholics

Pope Francis recalled the important contribution of Mgr Celso Costantini, first apostolic delegate to China, to whom Pope Pius XI entrusted the task of organizing the Council.

Archbishop Costantini's efforts have enabled the communion between the Holy See and the Church in China to manifest “fruits of good for all the Chinese people.”

The Council of Shanghai, the Pope said, “was not a question of 'changing strategy,' but of following the paths most consistent with the nature of the Church and its mission.”

Participants trusted in the grace of Christ, he added, and their look to the future became the present of the modern Church.

“The Lord in China has safeguarded the faith of God’s people all the way,” the Pope said. “And the faith of the people of God has been the compass that has shown the way throughout this period, before and after the Council of Shanghai, until today.”

Jesus' disciples love peace

Recalling the fruits of Concilium Sinense, Pope Francis told Chinese Catholics: “in communion with the Bishop of Rome, walk in the present time.”

He invited them to bear witness to their faith through works of mercy and charity, thus contributing to “the harmony of social coexistence, to the construction of the common home”.

“Those who follow Jesus love peace,” the Pope said, “and find themselves with all those who work for peace, at a time when we see inhuman forces at work that seem to want to accelerate the end of the world.” .

Maternal care of Our Lady of Sheshan

In conclusion, the Pope praised the devotion of Chinese Catholics to Our Lady of Sheshan, whose shrine is located near Shanghai and whose feast is celebrated on May 24.

He entrusted the Church in China to his intercession and prayed for “peace to win everywhere.”

“Remembering the Council of Shanghai,” he concluded, “can also suggest new paths to the whole Church today and open paths to boldly undertake to announce and bear witness to the Gospel in the present.”