On May 11, the Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong, Cardinal Joseph Zen, was arrested. The Holy See expressed concern about the incident. Zen was later released on bail. The 90-year-old has been accused of violating the controversial national security law. He invites prayer so that the Church in China can live in freedom and tranquility in active communion with the universal Church and carry out its mission of preaching the Gospel to all, Francis said on Sunday.
Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin – number two in the Vatican – called the arrest “extremely unfortunate” according to “Vatican News”. The Vatican agreed a deal with Beijing in 2018 to appoint bishops in China that would expire on October 22, 2022. Parolin saw no danger in this, but hoped that the path of dialogue between the Holy See and China would not become even more complicated. Zen has criticized the Chinese Communist Party and the agreement in the past.-
