Hong Kong’s outspoken Roman Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen was permitted to travel from the southern Chinese city to attend Pope Francis’ funeral in Vatican City.
“Cardinal Zen, a 93-year-old retired bishop, departed from Hong Kong on Wednesday (April 23, 2025) night after obtaining his passport back through a court application,” his secretary informed The Associated Press via a text message on Thursday (April 24, 2025.)
His passport had been confiscated by authorities following his controversial arrest under a national security law imposed by Beijing in 2022.
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Cardinal Zen is one of the critics who have voiced concerns in recent years about the Vatican’s agreement with Chinese authorities regarding the appointment of bishops, claiming it is a betrayal to pro-Vatican Chinese Catholics.
He has also openly criticized Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, responsible for negotiations with Beijing, calling him a “man of little faith.” Mr. Parolin is regarded as a top contender to become the next Pope due to his position in the Catholic hierarchy.
Reports on Tuesday (April 22, 2025) suggested that Cardinal Zen had issued a statement criticizing the Vatican for initiating pre-conclave meetings as early as Tuesday (April 22, 2025). While the AP could not independently verify the reports, Cardinal Zen shared the reporters’ posts about his statement on his X account.
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His secretary indicated that Cardinal Zen would return to Hong Kong following the funeral of the late Pope, scheduled for Saturday (April 26, 2025). However, the exact date of his return was uncertain.
This was not the first time he had to seek permission from the city’s court to leave Hong Kong. In 2023, he went through a similar process to pay his respects to the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
Cardinal Zen was initially arrested in 2022 on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces under the security law. His arrest had a significant impact on the Catholic community at that time.
Although Cardinal Zen has not faced charges related to national security, he and five others were fined in 2022 for failing to register a fund that aimed to assist individuals arrested during the widespread 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. A hearing for his appeal against the conviction is scheduled for December.
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Additionally, Hong Kong Cardinal Stephen Chow will be traveling to the Vatican for the conclave, as confirmed by the city’s Catholic Social Communications Office on Thursday (April 24, 2025.)
In 2023, a Beijing bishop appointed by China’s state-controlled Catholic church as an archbishop visited Hong Kong at the invitation of Cardinal Chow. This marked the first official visit by a Beijing bishop to the city.
Experts at the time suggested that Cardinal Chow’s invitation was a symbolic gesture that could help strengthen the delicate relations between China and the Vatican.
Following the rise of the Chinese Communist Party and the expulsion of foreign priests, Beijing and the Vatican severed diplomatic ties. Since then, Catholics in China have been divided between those affiliated with the state-sanctioned church and those in an underground church loyal to the Pope.
The Vatican acknowledges both groups as Catholics but maintains the exclusive right to appoint bishops.
Published – April 24, 2025 02:06 pm IST
