Wednesday morning, during the General Audience, Pope Francis announced that just days after signing the historic agreement in Beijing with China, he has written an accompanying message as well.
POPE FRANCIS
“With this, I hope that in China it is possible to open a new phase, which helps heal past wounds, re-establish and maintain full communion of all Chinese Catholics, and to assume with renewed commitment the announcement of the Gospel.”
He assured in his letter that he's “convinced that encounter can be authentic and fruitful only if it occurs through the practice of dialogue,” which involves knowing and respecting one another.
He said that this agreement “while limited to certain aspects of the Church’s life and necessarily capable of improvement, can contribute – for its part – to writing this new chapter of the Catholic Church in China.”
POPE FRANCIS
“The Agreement is the result of a long and thoughtful journey of dialogue, intended to foster a more positive collaboration between the Saint Headquarters and the Chinese authorities for the good of the Catholic community in China and for the harmony of the whole society.”
He thus asked the bishops, priests and consecrated people throughout the world to “leave behind past conflicts” and to “work humbly for reconciliation and unity.” He especially asked for them to “seek good candidates” who could be bishops in the Church.
