Over 100 pastors and representatives from the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) met with Cardinal Stephen Chow of Hong Kong during a visit to the Catholic Diocese Centre on Caine Road.
The meeting was part of the LWF’s Asian Church leadership conference held in Hong Kong this month, marking a significant step in fostering unity and understanding between the two churches.
“We are brothers and sisters. You are more than friends to us,” said Cardinal Chow to the Lutheran delegation, according to Sunday Examiner, the official news site of the Church in Hong Kong.
He expressed joy in hosting the gathering and reaffirmed the strong relationship between the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations.
The Lutheran delegation included LWF President Bishop Henrik Stubkjær, Vice President Reverend Ben Chang, Bishop Jackson Yeung of the Hong Kong Lutheran Church, and over 80 leaders from Asia, including Japan, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, India, and the Holy Land.
Additionally, representatives from American and European mission bodies and the LWF head office in Geneva were present.
Vicar General Father Joseph Chan Wing-chiu, chairperson of the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission, and commission member Theresa Lumo Kung, highlighted key ecumenical milestones during the visit.
These included the Chinese translation of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, released a decade ago, and an ecumenical pilgrimage to Rome in May, where Pope Francis met with Catholic, Lutheran, and other Christian leaders.
Cardinal Chow presented the Lutheran delegates with a Chinese calligraphy artwork featuring the words “Faith, hope, and love,” created by Father Nicolas de Francqueville of the Paris Foreign Missions Society.
Bishop Stubkjær expressed gratitude for the warm reception, stating, “Jesus calls us to be one and to love and to serve our neighbor. When we do this together as Lutherans and Catholics, we show that unity means not only in word but also in action.”
Stubkjær also reflected on the federation’s history, emphasizing its commitment to unity and reconciliation since its founding in 1947.
He recounted milestones such as the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification in 1999 and the joint Catholic-Lutheran commemoration of the Reformation with Pope Francis in 2016.
The Lutheran bishop highlighted the ongoing dialogue with the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican Churches and a renewed agreement for humanitarian cooperation with Caritas.
He recalled the LWF’s recent visit to Pope Francis in June, during which the delegation presented the pope with a flower from a Ukrainian girl, symbolizing shared hope for peace.
The visit also provided an opportunity for discussions on pressing issues within the Catholic Church.
Cardinal Chow addressed the roles of women, noting their significant leadership positions in dicasteries and diocesan commissions, saying, “So apart from ordained ministries, the Church relies a lot on women leadership.”
The cardinal also acknowledged the challenges of engaging youth in the Catholic Church, attributing declining participation in Hong Kong to emigration.
He observed that younger members in their 20s are stepping into leadership roles due to the absence of leaders in their 30s and 40s.
The delegates viewed a video on the history and ministries of the Diocese of Hong Kong and posed questions about topics such as the recent synod in Rome, women’s participation, and youth formation.
They later visited the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, where they attended a presentation on the history and architecture of the cathedral and the symbolism of Cardinal Chow’s coat of arms.
