PAKISTAN – CHINA Pakistan bishop joins AsiaNews to demand the release of Chinese bishops and priests

Rome – In response to the campaign promoted by AsiaNews, Mgr Lawrence John Saldanha, archbishop emeritus of Lahore, has made a strong plea “to the government of the People’s Republic of China to free imprisoned bishops and priests. He has no doubts about backing the initiative promoted by Fr Bernardo Cervellera in favour of religious freedom in China and the decision to award Mgrs James Su Zhimin and Cosma Shi Enxiang the symbolic prize of ‘illustrious unknown’ for 2011 (see B. Cervellera, “Two Chinese bishop martyrs recognised as ‘Illustrious Unknown’ for 2011,” in AsiaNews, 30 December 2011) for their decades-long struggle for truth, dignity and justice. “Certainly, I strongly support the campaign in favour of imprisoned or missing bishops and priests,” the Pakistani prelate said, because “it is a question of religious freedom and the basic human rights of free citizens.”

On the occasion of the Chinese New Year, on 23 January, which marks the start of the Year of the Dragon, AsiaNews sent a letter to Chinese President Hu Jintao and the Chinese ambassador to Italy, asking for the release of three bishops and six priests, who disappeared into the hands of the police or are held without trial in a country that has the second largest economy, is a member of the United Nations Security Council and has signed the universal charter of human rights.

Mgr Savio Hon Tai-fai, secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, focused on China’s “international image” and on the importance to remember the silent witnesses of the faith.

For Mgr Saldanha, the initiative is “timely and urgent” because China has opened its borders to trade and development, and should give a “good example” in terms of “moral behaviour and respect for human rights.”

“It would earn the respect of the international community if it increased the level of rights and granted detained religious leaders complete freedom,” he added.

Coming from a country, Pakistan, where Christians are often victims of persecution and violence by majority Muslims, the prelate wants to send a message to jailed Chinese bishops and priests through AsiaNews.

“As your brothers from Pakistan, we send you our sincerest greetings and prayers,” he said. “We are all united in the body of Christ and your suffering and sacrifices help build the universal Church.”

For Saldanha, Christians are victims of “trials, discrimination and injustice” in “Pakistan as well” because of their faith. In the upcoming period of Lent, he added, “we will be united in prayer” to “reach hope and the salvation of the cross.”

The archbishop emeritus of Lahore said that “in nations like China and Pakistan”, media and news organisations must continue to expose the suffering and persecution as well as human rights violations.

“Media must continue to tell the world about the illegal detention of Chinese bishops and priests,” Mgr Saldanha noted. “The Pakistani Church strongly backs your campaign.”