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Pope deplores lack of religious freedom in Asian countries
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Vatican City. Pope John Paul II on Friday deplored the lack of religious freedom in some Asian countries, where he said Christians were not free to "profess their faith", but stopped short of identifying the states involved.
The pontiff was speaking to a council of Asian bishops which convened at the Vatican as part of an ongoing series of meetings to discuss a previous synod.
"Those who suffer especially are those who are not free to profess their faith," said the pope, adding that these Christians should continue to be "silent witnesses" of Christ, "in patient waiting for the day in which they will have full religious liberty".
The 84-year-old pope did not mention any country by name, but it is clear that he had China and Vietnam in mind, both countries with which he has waged a long battle over their refusal to recognize his primacy over Catholics there.
The Vatican accused China in September of serious human rights violations for unfairly arresting a number of Roman Catholic priests in the country.
The Catholic church in China is divided. One branch, known as "The Church of Silence," is clandestine, loyal to the Vatican and thought to have several million followers.
The other has pledged allegiance to the Chinese authorities. Known as the "patriotic" church, it has about four million members and does not recognise the authority of the pope.
Vietnam's communist authorities allow private worship but maintain tight control over Church activities.
Church appointments have to be submitted for government approval and the training of priests and construction of churches are tightly controlled.
John Paul II told the bishops the fact that the Roman Catholic Church in Asia "is 'a little flock' should not lead to discouragement, because the effectiveness of evangelization does not depend on numbers", pointing out that Christ began the process of evangelization with only a few apostles.
The pope added that Asia's high percentage of young people represented "a reason for optimism for the future and a challenge for the present".
"A reason for optimism because the young generations, full of promise, are available to dedicate themselves totally to a cause; a challenge because unrealised dreams can generate disillusionment, and those who cultivate them can easily take advantage of them to promote extreme ideologies."
The pontiff was speaking to a council of Asian bishops which convened at the Vatican as part of an ongoing series of meetings to discuss a previous synod.
"Those who suffer especially are those who are not free to profess their faith," said the pope, adding that these Christians should continue to be "silent witnesses" of Christ, "in patient waiting for the day in which they will have full religious liberty".
The 84-year-old pope did not mention any country by name, but it is clear that he had China and Vietnam in mind, both countries with which he has waged a long battle over their refusal to recognize his primacy over Catholics there.
The Vatican accused China in September of serious human rights violations for unfairly arresting a number of Roman Catholic priests in the country.
The Catholic church in China is divided. One branch, known as "The Church of Silence," is clandestine, loyal to the Vatican and thought to have several million followers.
The other has pledged allegiance to the Chinese authorities. Known as the "patriotic" church, it has about four million members and does not recognise the authority of the pope.
Vietnam's communist authorities allow private worship but maintain tight control over Church activities.
Church appointments have to be submitted for government approval and the training of priests and construction of churches are tightly controlled.
John Paul II told the bishops the fact that the Roman Catholic Church in Asia "is 'a little flock' should not lead to discouragement, because the effectiveness of evangelization does not depend on numbers", pointing out that Christ began the process of evangelization with only a few apostles.
The pope added that Asia's high percentage of young people represented "a reason for optimism for the future and a challenge for the present".
"A reason for optimism because the young generations, full of promise, are available to dedicate themselves totally to a cause; a challenge because unrealised dreams can generate disillusionment, and those who cultivate them can easily take advantage of them to promote extreme ideologies."
