Campaign Coverage
After Cardinal Zen arrest, Pope Francis prays for ‘freedom and tranquility’ for Chinese Catholics
vaticannews.va May 22, 2022
Pope Francis today urged Catholics worldwide to join in prayer for the church in China so that its 12 million Catholics may be able to live “in freedom and tranquility” and “in effective communion with the universal church.”
“I am attentively and actively following the often complex life and situations of the faithful and pastors [in China], and I pray every day for them,” he said in a message for the feast of Mary Help of Christians that is celebrated on May 24.
Pope expresses closeness to pastors and faithful in China
vaticannews.va May 22, 2022
Finally Pope Francis looked ahead to Tuesday, the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin, Mary Help of Christians, whom the Pope noted is “particularly dear to Catholics in China who venerate Mary, Help of Christians as their Patroness in the Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai, in many churches throughout the country, and in their homes”. The Pope noted that this “happy occasion” offers him the opportunity “to assure them once again of my spiritual closeness”. The Pope assured those gathered that he is “attentively and actively following the often complex life and situations of the faithful and pastors”, and that he prays every day for them.
China crisis: Beijing’s crackdown is threatening the very existence of the Catholic faith
aleteia.org May 20, 2022
The arrest of Cardinal Joseph Zen, the 90-year-old emeritus Bishop of Hong Kong, has put the spotlight on religious persecution by the Beijing regime. Nina Shea, an international human rights lawyer and Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, talks to Aleteia about restrictions on religious freedom and human rights abuses in China and in Hong Kong. Shea served seven terms as a Commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, and has been a tireless advocate for persecuted religious minorities around the world.
Garnett Genuis: Global Week of Prayer, Advocacy for China: Christians Pray for Fellow Believers, Other Persecuted Groups
theepochtimes.com May 19, 2022
The second annual Week of Global Prayer for China will begin on May 22. In 2021, a group of lay Christians from around the world responded to Cardinal Charles Bo’s call for prayer for the Christians and the church of China. This year, Christians have continued the call and are mobilizing to pray for China.
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Global forum seeks week-long prayers for China
Cathnews.com May 19, 2022
The Global Prayer for China, which is set to begin on May 22, was initiated last year by an informal coalition of lay Christians from six continents, including outgoing Liberal MP Kevin Andrews, in response to a request from Myanmar Cardinal Charles Bo.
Religious Freedom Matters Podcast: A Window Into Religious Persecution in China and Hong Kong
ncregister.com May 16, 2022
How has the Communist party “winnowed down” Christianity in China and Hong Kong and what does this mean for the future of the Catholic Church there? International Rights Lawyer Nina Shea of the Hudson Institute sheds light on the persecution of religious believers in China on Religious Freedom Matters.
In solidarity with Hong Kong
UCAnews.com May 16, 2022
My Catholic faith has been shaped by a wide range of spiritual traditions from within the Church. Before I was received into the Church in St Mary’s Cathedral, Yangon, Myanmar on Palm Sunday nine years ago, I undertook an Ignatian retreat at Campion Hall in Oxford. I have a Jesuit spiritual director, have made several retreats at Jesuit centers over the past decade, and was baptized just 11 days after our first-ever Jesuit pontiff, Pope Francis was elected.
Pope appeals for prayer for Catholics in China
Taiwannews.com.tw, May 24, 2021
Pope Francis called on Catholics throughout the world to pray for the church in China at the Regina Coeli on Sunday (May 23), per Vatican News. Monday is the feast of Our Lady Help of Christians, the national patron saint for the Chinese faithful. In 2007, Benedict XVI announced that May 24 would be the World Day of Prayer for the church in China.
Pope calls on Catholics to accompany Church in China with fervent prayer
Vaticannews.va, May 23, 2021
At the Regina Coeli on Sunday, Pope Francis invites the faithful throughout the world to accompany Chinese Catholics in prayer as they prepare to celebrate the feast of Our Lady Help of Christians, their national patron.
Pope Francis urges Christians worldwide to pray for the church in China
Americamagazine.org, May 23, 2021
Pope Francis called on believers worldwide to pray for Christians in China as they celebrate on May 24 the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians and patroness of their “great country.” He issued his call from his study window in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace on May 23, the eve of that feast, after celebrating Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on the feast of Pentecost
U.S. Bishops’ Chairman for International Justice and Peace calls for Prayers for Church and Peoples of China
Usccb.org, May 20, 2021
On March 14, 2021 Cardinal Bo, the archbishop of Yangon in Myanmar, called for an expansion of the day of prayer to a full week, to be observed May 23-30. Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, His Eminence asked that prayers be offered not only for the Church, but ‘to protect all humanity and therefore the dignity of each and every person in China.
The Catholic Church Bishop's Conference of England and Wales: Week of Prayer for China
Cbcew.org.uk, May 23, 2021
In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI designated 24 May, the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians as an annual worldwide Day of Prayer for the Church in China.This year, Cardinal Charles Bo, President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, has called on the faithful to extend this to a Week of Prayer for the Church and people of China.Bishop Declan Lang, Chair of the Bishops’ International Affairs department, is encouraging Catholics to take up Cardinal Bo’s call to prayer for China.
US bishops promote prayer octave for China
Catholicnewsagency.com, May 20, 2021
The chair of the US bishops’ international justice and peace committee on Thursday called for participation in the prayer octave for the Church in China urged by Charles Maung Cardinal Bo of Yangon.
Cardinal Schönborn message of Support & Call for Prayer
Twitter.com, May 22, 2021
Pentecost Monday is the World Day of Prayer for China. This year, Cardinal Bo, President of the Asian Bishops’ Conferences, has called for a week of prayer for the Church and all people in China, starting at Pentecost. I join him in this. It is a matter close to my heart.
MP joins call for China prayer campaign
CathNews.com, May 12, 2021
An international coalition of lay Christians, including Australian MP Kevin Andrews, has launched a campaign to support a global prayer effort focusing on the persecuted and repressed in China.
Card Bo inspires a 'Global Prayer for China
AsiaNews.it, May 10, 2021
A group of experts, politicians and academics launch a week of prayer for the persecuted in China: Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, Hong Kong activists, prisoners of conscience. This follows Card Charles Maung Bo’s call for a Week of Prayer for the Church in China, like the Day of Prayer established by Benedict XVI in 2007, on the feast day of Our Lady of Sheshan.
Join Cardinal Bo in praying for China
UCANews, Benedict Rogers, May 9, 2021
Cardinal Bo’s call is timely as China faces the most severe repression since the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989 … Never has the need to pray for that great nation and its peoples been greater.
As evidence of genocide mounts, now is the time to pray for China
The Tablet, Benedict Rogers, May 8 2021
While the Chinese Communist Party regime has always been repressive, today it stands accused of genocide, forced organ harvesting, repeated breaches of international treaties, an all-out assault on all forms of dissent, civil society activism or independent media and a war on faith … It is right to pray for the Church and peoples suffering under the regime responsible for these acts of inhumanity and mendacity. It is right to pray for China.
Catholic Laity Take Up Global Prayer Campaign for the ‘Church and Peoples of China
National Review, Nina Shea, May 7, 2021
China is at war with all religions. Both government-registered or “Patriotic” churches and underground churches are severely repressed and may be existentially threatened. Since 2018, the Chinese Communist Party regime has ratcheted up measures to stop the spread of the faith and distort Christian teachings. It is employing four major strategies to do this.
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