Pope Francis offers message of hope for the Chinese people

By Isabella Piro

The heart of the interview granted by Pope Francis to Father Pedro Chia, director of the press office of the Chinese province of the Society of Jesus, is “a message of hope” and a blessing for all the Chinese people. It is an interview with a strong spiritual dimension, punctuated by personal memories of the Pope and his reflections on the future of the Church.

Continuing their legacy

The Pope does not hide his desire to visit China, especially the shrine of Sheshan, in the Songjiang district, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Help of Christians. In this Asian country, he says, he would like to meet the local bishops and “the people of God who are so faithful.” “They are a faithful people,” he continues. “They have been through a lot and have remained faithful.”

To young Chinese Catholics in particular, the Pope emphasizes the concept of hope, even if – he notes – “it seems tautological to me to give a message of hope to a people who are masters of hope” and “of patience in waiting.” And this, he emphasizes, “is a very beautiful thing.”

The Chinese people are “a great people” who “must not waste their heritage,” Francis adds; on the contrary, “they must carry it patiently.”

Criticisms and resistances

During the interview, the Pope also looks back on his pontificate, which was carried out in collaboration, listening and consultation with the heads of the dicasteries and with everyone. “Criticism always helps, even if it is not constructive,” he says, because “it is always useful, it makes you think about how you act.”

And even “behind the resistance, there can sometimes be good criticism.” Sometimes it is necessary to “wait and endure,” even “with pain,” as when we encounter resistance “against the Church, as is happening at this moment” from “small groups.” But, the Pope repeats, “moments of difficulty or desolation are always resolved with the consolation” of the Lord.

War and other challenges

As for the many “challenges” he has had to face so far on the throne of Peter, the Pope recalls in particular “the enormous challenge” of the pandemic, as well as “the current challenge” of war, especially in Ukraine, Myanmar and the Middle East.

“I always try to solve problems through dialogue,” he explains. “And when that doesn’t work, with patience and also with humor,” according to the teachings of St. Thomas More.

Personal crises

On a personal level, the Pope recalls having experienced some “crises” during his religious life as a Jesuit. They are normal, he explains: “Otherwise, I would not be human.” But crises are overcome in two ways: one works through them and goes through them “like a labyrinth,” from which one emerges “on top”; and then “one never emerges alone, but with help, accompanied,” because “letting oneself be helped is very important.” Francis adds that he asks the Lord for “the grace to be forgiven, that he be patient with me.”

Discernment, the poor, the young, our common home

The Pope also refers to the four “universal apostolic preferences” of the Jesuits, defined in 2019 as the priorities of the Order for the next ten years: promoting spiritual exercises and discernment, walking with the poor and excluded, accompanying young people in creating a future of hope and caring for our common home. These are four “integrated” principles that “cannot be separated,” he says, emphasizing that accompaniment, discernment and missionary work are the cornerstones of the Society of Jesus.

Clericalism and worldliness

Regarding the future of the Church, the Pope recalled that, according to some, it will be “smaller and smaller” and that it will be necessary “to be careful not to fall into the scourge of clericalism and spiritual worldliness.” This would be, he said, quoting the late Cardinal Henri de Lubac, “the worst evil that could afflict the Church, even worse than the era of the libertine popes.”

Finally, to the one who will succeed him on the throne of Peter, Francis underlines the importance of prayer because “the Lord speaks in prayer.”