In Hong Kong, the elderly Cardinal Zen, known for his pro-democracy and anti-Communist positions, was allowed to leave the Special Administrative Region to attend the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI while still at large under caution. The former bishop of Hong Kong knew Benedict XVI well, particularly within the new Commission on China set up at the time by the pope.
With our correspondent in Hong Kong, Florence de Changy
Since his fined in OctoberCardinal Zen is still out on bail in Hong Kong, as he faces further prosecution under national security law.
His passport was therefore only returned to him temporarily on Tuesday, January 3, to go to Rome, a particularly symbolic trip for Cardinal Zen because it was Pope Benedict XVI who had appointed him cardinal.
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During an interview recorded in 2018, Cardinal Zen talks about the former pope and the role he played in bringing the Vatican closer to China upon his election: “ At that time, the new pope, the former Cardinal Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI, he had very clear ideas. First because he knows what an authoritarian regime is : he knew Nazism, Communism, in Germany. And then he attended these secret meetings [sur la Chine] and he has a good memory. So he knows the Chinese question rather well. »
Cardinal Zen made no secret of his disapproval of thesecret agreement between China and the Vatican in 2018 of which he was one of the most virulent critics. But during his last visit to Rome, he stood in the way for three days to have an audience with Pope Francis, in vain.
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