Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., marked his fourth year as bishop of Hong Kong with a call to deepen dialogue and widen participation in Church life.
The prelate said the past years as leader of the diocese have been a period of hard-won confidence, pastoral learning, and renewed commitment to communion.
In an interview with the Sunday Examiner and Kung Kao Po on Nov. 28, the cardinal said he now feels “more at ease” in the role he assumed on Dec. 4, 2021, after navigating both the expectations of the faithful and the disruptions caused by the pandemic.
“I have grown more confident,” he said, adding that ongoing learning remains central to his ministry.
Looking ahead to 2026, Cardinal Chow said he wants to strengthen a “culture of dialogue” throughout the diocese. While acknowledging the Church’s hierarchical structure differs from democratic systems, he stressed the importance of opening more space for shared discernment and decision-making.
“We need to learn, respect, and put into practice giving young people a true role and place,” he said. “Not only young people, but also women and those on the fringe who are often not given enough space.”
He noted that translating dialogue into concrete processes of decision-making, evaluation, and implementation remains a persistent challenge.
As the diocese prepares to mark its 80th anniversary, the cardinal expressed gratitude for the blessings of past decades but underscored the need to adapt to demographic changes, including population shifts and rising immigration.
He urged young Catholics to bring renewed energy to the Church’s mission and invited the community to “journey forward in faith.”
The cardinal said his international visits this year offered opportunities to explain the local Church’s experience and address misconceptions abroad.
“Reports about Hong Kong are not always accurate,” he said. “If I do not speak out when people suggest there is no religious freedom or that persecution exists, it is as though I am admitting it myself.”
He emphasised that more than 200 Catholic schools in Hong Kong, many of them government-subsidised, continue to provide religious education and liturgical activities, which he described as evidence that “religious freedom and freedom of cult remain intact.”
Cardinal Chow also spoke about his engagement with the media, saying he does not shy away from difficult questions and believes sincere communication helps build trust. Sharing personal experiences, he added, can foster mutual understanding.
On his health, the cardinal said he follows a vegetarian diet and exercises in the morning. He admitted, however, that monitoring caffeine consumption has been “a challenge.”
“I used to be more disciplined, limited to one cup of coffee a day,” he said with a smile. He added that despite often sleeping only a few hours a night, he is grateful to his team, including his assistant: “They keep everything running smoothly.”
As he reflected on the “grace-filled experiences” of the past four years, Cardinal Chow expressed hope for deeper communion and continued growth in the years ahead.
