In a historic visit aimed at strengthening ties between the Catholic communities of Hong Kong and Shanghai, Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J. of Hong Kong called for deeper dialogue and collaboration within the Church in mainland China.
Leading a five-day delegation to Shanghai from Feb. 24 to 28, the cardinal emphasized the importance of spiritual formation, interfaith understanding, and pastoral cooperation as the Church navigates an evolving social landscape.
“The Church is called to be a bridge of dialogue and communion. May this journey of encounter inspire us to walk together in faith and hope, building stronger ties within the universal Church,” Cardinal Chow said at the conclusion of the visit, according to Sunday Examiner.
On Feb. 25, Cardinal Chow and his delegation joined Bishop Joseph Shen Bin of Shanghai at the Basilica of Our Lady of Sheshan, where they celebrated Mass and prayed for the health of Pope Francis.
Reflecting on the experience, Cardinal Chow shared, “I was genuinely touched, and I found myself in tears during the prayer. This location carries immense importance for the Church in China, and it was meaningful to pray alongside Bishop Shen for the Holy Father here.”
Cardinal Stephen praised the Diocese of Shanghai’s strong liturgical traditions but suggested further exploration of spiritual formation programs, noting that they are “precious treasures of the Catholic faith.”
The cardinal also took note of the Shanghai diocese’s ability to maintain a delicate balance between the Church and civic society, encouraging Hong Kong’s faithful to adopt a similar approach.
“I feel the Shanghai diocese appreciated our visit and I look forward to their reciprocal visit to the Hong Kong diocese in the future,” he said.
The visit concluded with a farewell ceremony, where Cardinal Stephen reiterated his hope for continued exchanges.
“Go to Joseph! Let us entrust the fruits of this visit to St. Joseph, the guardian of the Church in China, and pray that the seeds of friendship and collaboration sown in Shanghai will continue to bear fruit in the years to come,” he said.
