Bishop Li Shan of Beijing, a Leader of the Catholic Church in China, Makes an Historic Hong Kong Visit
Bishop Li Shan of Beijing begins Hong Kong visit
Bishop Joseph Li Shan of Beijing, China made an historic visit to Hong Kong and it began with the recitation of vespers in the chapel of the diocesan Curia.
Cardinal Chow received an image of Matteo Ricci as a gift from Bishop Li. Bishop Li stayed for five days, like the Cardinal did in April in the Chinese capital. The meetings will included a visit to the seminary. The bishop of Hong Kong hopes to see a deeper understanding and closer human ties between the two dioceses.
AsiaNews reports that Bishop Li was appointed last year as the president of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, the "official" body controlled by the Communist Party. The bishop is reciprocating the visit made to Beijing by Cardinal Stephen Chow Sau-yan, last April, the first by a bishop of Hong Kong in the Chinese capital after almost thirty years.
In the morning the cardinal himself, together with Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha, welcomed Bishop Li at the Diocesan Centre on Caine Road, Hong Kong.
In the cardinal's office, an exchange of gifts took place to mark the historic visit. Bishop Li presented Cardinal Chow with a glass image of Venerable Matteo Ricci, while the cardinal presented the Bishop of Beijing with an image of Saints Peter and Paul carved on white marble.
Some representatives of the Diocese of Beijing will also participate in the Third International Conference of Chinese Permanent Deacons, which is currently underway in Hong Kong. In addition to deacons from the former British colony, permanent deacons of Chinese origin travelled from the United States, Canada, Australia and Singapore.
In the Thanksgiving Mass upon becoming cardinal on 4 November, Bishop Chow expressed the hope that Bishop Li's five-day visit would lead to deeper understanding and closer human ties between the Churches of Hong Kong and Beijing.
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