Wikipedia

Joseph Zen

In thisChinese name,thefamily nameisZen.Thebaptismal nameisJoseph.
"Cardinal Zen" redirects here. For the music producer, seeCardinal Zen (musician).

Joseph Zen Ze-kiun,SDB(Wu Chinese pronunciation:[zəɲzəʔtɕyəɲ],born 13 January 1932) is a retired Chinesecardinalof theCatholic Churchwho served asBishop of Hong Kongfrom 2002 to 2009. He was made a cardinal byPope Benedict XVIin 2006 and has been outspoken on issues regarding human rights,political freedom,andreligious liberty.

His Eminence

Joseph Zen Ze-kiun

SDB
Cardinal,
Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong
Cardinal Zen in his episcopal attire
ChurchCatholic Church
SeeHong Kong
Installed23 September 2002
Term ended15 April 2009
PredecessorJohn Baptist Wu
SuccessorJohn Tong
Other post(s)Cardinal-Priest ofSanta Maria Madre del Redentore a Tor Bella Monaca(2006–present)
Previous post(s)Coadjutor Bishop of Hong Kong (1996–2002)
Orders
Ordination11 February 1961
byMaurilio Fossati
Consecration9 December 1996
byJohn Baptist Wu
Created cardinal24 March 2006
byPope Benedict XVI
Personal details
Born(1932-01-13)13 January 1932(age 92)
Shanghai,Republic of China
NationalityChinese
DenominationRoman Catholicism
EducationSalesian Pontifical University
MottoIpsi Cura Est
(English: "For he cares about you" )[1]
Coat of armsJoseph Zen Ze-kiun's coat of arms
Ordination history of
Joseph Zen
History
Priestly ordination
Ordained byMaurilio Fossati(Turin)
Date11 February 1961
PlaceTurin,Italy
Episcopal consecration
Principal consecratorJohn Baptist Wu(Hong Kong)
Co-consecratorsPeter Shirayanagi(Tokyo)
Charles Asa Schleck(Adj. Sec.Sacr. Cong. Prop. Fide)
Date9 December 1996
PlaceCathedral of the Immaculate Conception,British Hong Kong
Cardinalate
Elevated byPope Benedict XVI
Date24 March 2006
Episcopal succession
Bishops consecrated by Joseph Zen as principal consecrator
Luciano Capelli21 October 2007
Styles of
Joseph Zen
Reference styleHis Eminence
Spoken styleYour Eminence
Informal styleCardinal
SeeHong Kong (Emeritus)
Joseph Zen
Traditional ChineseTrần nhật quân
Simplified ChineseTrần nhật quân
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinChén Rìjūn
Wade–GilesCh'en2Jih4chün1
Yale RomanizationChén R̀jyūn
IPA[ʈʂʰə̌n ɻɻ̩̂tɕýn]
Wu
Shanghainese
Romanization		[zəɲzəʔtɕyəɲ]
Hakka
RomanizationCin2Ngit5Giun1[2]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationChàhn Yahtgwān
Jyutpingcan4jat6gwan1
IPA[tsʰɐ̏njɐ̀tkʷɐ́n]

Zen's strong ties with thepro-democracy campoften attract criticism from thepro-Beijing campand thegovernment of the People's Republic of China.[3]He retired on 15 April 2009, but remains a strong pro-democracy influence in Hong Kong. On 11 May 2022 he was arrested by theNational Security Policeand later that day released on bail.[4]

Early life and career

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Joseph Zen was born inShanghaitoCatholicparents, Vincent Zen and Margaret Tseu. He studied in a church school during theSecond Sino-Japanese War,but was sent to anabbeyafter his father suffered a stroke.

Zen fled to Hong Kong from Shanghai to escape Communist rule at the end of theChinese Civil War.After entering theSalesiansat the Hong Kongnovitiatein 1948,[5]he wasordainedto thepriesthoodon 11 February 1961[6]by CardinalMaurilio Fossati.Zen obtained alicentiate in theology(1961) and a doctorate in philosophy (1964) from theSalesian Pontifical Universityin Rome. After 1973, he taught in the Holy Spirit Seminary College of Hong Kong – 1976 to 1978 of Macao Salesian School (Instituto Salesiano) as principal. In 1978 he became theProvincial Superiorof Salesians (which includes mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan), then resigned in 1983. He was a lecturer in theseminariesin China, centres of studies acknowledged by the Communist party, between 1989 and 1996. He was appointed thecoadjutorBishop of Hong Kongin 1996 byPope John Paul II.[5][6]

Retirement

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Bishop Joseph Zen prayed with Catholics before the protest against Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23 legislation

On 18 September 2005, he told Hong Kong newspaperApple Dailyreporters that he was willing to retire in January 2007.[7]He also said that he wanted to be a teacher in either mainland China or in Africa, as there was a shortage of teachers in Africa.Democratic Partyex-chairmanMartin Lee,also a Roman Catholic, stated that because Zen was still healthy for his age, the Pope may request him to stay in his position. Legislative Council memberAudrey Eupraised Zen for being braver than other religious leaders in Hong Kong in sharing his political views and also because "he carried out his ideas of fairness, equitableness, and philanthropy via actual efforts". On the other hand, some conservatives inside the church speculated that the strained relationship between Beijing and theHoly Seewill become more relaxed if Zen retires. Nonetheless, Zen wrote a letter to the Pope on 13 January 2006 and stated that he did want to retire from his position, though not because of his age. On 15 April 2009, Pope Benedict accepted Cardinal Zen's resignation andJohn Tong Honbecame the bishop of thediocese.[8]

From 22 October 2011 for three days Cardinal Zen went onhunger strikewhich was undertaken as an act of protest against losing a long-standing legal battle with the Hong Kong government over how aided schools should be run.[9]He later wrote about his experiences in an open letter.[10]

Cardinalate

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Coat of Arms of Cardinal Zen. The motto isIpsi cura estis from1 Peter5:7. In English it says: "He cares about you."

On 22 February 2006, the Vatican announced that Zen would be elevated to theCollege of CardinalsbyPope Benedict XVIin theconsistoryon 24 March 2006. Zen, who was createdCardinal-PriestofSanta Maria Madre del Redentore a Tor Bella Monaca,saw his elevation as indication of how much the Pope values the Church in China. He was named a member of theCongregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

Bishop Zen's elevation was welcomed by Catholics in Hong Kong as it was seen as a recognition of the bishop's stance on social justice and as an honour for the church in Hong Kong. Vicar GeneralDominic Chan Chi-mingsaid that it would be an honour to have a cardinal to once again head the diocese. Rev.Louis Ha Ke-loonsaid it shows that the Pope feels that Bishop Zen should speak out. Democrat legislator Martin Lee added that it was good news because no matter whether he is a bishop or a cardinal, as a religious leader Zen speaks as moral voice of the people.

At the time of his elevation, Zen was the only Chinese cardinal eligible to participate in papal conclaves. His elevation can be seen as giving hope to the underground Catholic Church in China.

Cardinal Zen offered aPontifical High Massin theTridentine Ritein May 2006, for which he was thanked bytraditionalist Catholicsaround the world.

Pope Benedict XVI named Cardinal Zen to write the meditations for theStations of the Crossled by the Pope at the RomanColisseumonGood Friday,21 March 2008.

In August 2023,Cardinal Brandmüller, along with Cardinals Burke,Íñiguez,Sarah,and Zen, submitted another list of fivedubiato Pope Francis related to the upcomingSynod on Synodality.TheDubiaquestioned the necessity of the upcoming synod, asked whether the blessing of same-sex unions was theologically admissible, and questioned the Pope's claim that "forgiveness is a human right".[11]

Cardinal Zen criticized some of Pope Francis’ responses to five dubia, saying that the Pope's guidance on the blessing of same-sex unions is “pastorally untenable.”[12]

Relations with the People's Republic of China

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In October 2011, Zen said that he had received HK$20 million from Hong Kong tycoonJimmy Laisince 2005, which went to helping the underground Church and the poor on the mainland.[13]

In 2014 Cardinal Zen Ze-kiun asked Pope Francis not to visit China, saying the pontiff would be “manipulated”. In an interview he told the Italian newspaperCorriere della Sera:“I would tell him now, ‘Don’t come, you would be manipulated'. The few courageous [Catholics] could not meet [the Pope], and the Communist Party would show him the illegitimate bishops, including the three excommunicated ones.” The comments came as ties between the Vatican and China improved in the early days of the pontificate of Francis, with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs congratulating Francis on his election.[14]Cardinal Zen said he did not see signs of dialogue happening between the Catholic Church and China. “Even if under these conditions Beijing was to extend a hand, it would be a trick under these circumstances,” he said. “Our poor bishops are slaves, the Communist Party denies them respect, tries to take away their dignity.”[14]

In September 2014 as part of the2014 Hong Kong protests,Cardinal Zen addressed the protesters saying "It's high time we really showed that we want to be free and not to be slaves. We must unite together". During his speech protesters were fired on with tear gas and he asked them to disperse.[15]

In a 2018 interview, Cardinal Zen, onSino-Holy See relations,said “Pope Francis does not know the real Communist Party in China, butParolinshould know. He was there [in the Secretariat of State] so many years, so he must know. He may be happy to encourage the pope to be optimistic about the negotiations… but that’s dangerous. Pope Francis needs someone to calm him down from his enthusiasm.” Zen added that “It seems the Secretary of State wants to have a solution anyway. He is so optimistic. That’s dangerous. I told the pope that he [Parolin] has a poisoned mind. He is very sweet, but I have no trust in this person. He believes in diplomacy, not in our faith.”[16][17]

In 2019, Zen responded to Cardinal Filoni's weeklong trip to Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau. Cardinal Filoni said that the provisional agreement between Beijing and the Holy See signed in 2018 “will be a very good thing for the Church in the future, and also for China.” Zen suggested that “One wonders: from which planet did our leaders in Rome descend?” Zen, the emeritus bishop of Hong Kong, responded on his blog on 5 March. Zen added that “The incredible thing is the invitation to trust the government! Is information on recent oppression measures missing from our superiors in the Vatican?”[18]Zen later expressed a desire to tellPope Francisthat the pontiff's actions were "encouraging a schism" by "legitimizing the schismatic church in China."[19]

During the2019–2020 Hong Kong protests,Zen criticized Pope Francis after he was quoted as saying that he loved China and would like to visit and condemned his lack of stance against China.[20]

On May 11, 2022, Hong Kong police arrested Zen and four others who helped run the disbanded 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund for protesters, all on the charge of "collusion with foreign forces". The others who were arrested were senior barristerMargaret Ng,activist and pop singerDenise Ho,former lawmakerCyd Ho,and former academic Hui Po-keung. Zen was held and questioned inChai Wanpolice station close to his church residence.[21]Zen was released on bail and had his passport confiscated after interrogation.[22]After his initial arrest, theHoly Seepress office stated that they were concerned and following the situation closely.[23]Karine Jean-Pierrecalled upon the PRC to immediately release Zen and the others arrested, and former U.S. CongressmanDan Lipinskiattacked the Chinese government over the move. American bishopsThomas Joseph TobinandJoseph Stricklandboth called for prayers for Zen's release.[24]In the U.K., British ministerJames Cleverlycalled the arrests unacceptable in a statement given beforeParliament.[25]Vatican's Secretary of StatePietro Parolinsaid the arrest of Zen should not be read as disavowal of Sino-Vatican agreement.[26]

Views

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Zen at theChinese University of Hong Kongin 2018

Advocacy for democracy

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After he succeeded as Bishop of Hong Kong on 23 September 2002, he led the Diocese in voicing reservations about the proposed anti-subversion laws, required underArticle 23 of the Basic Law.[citation needed]He was worried that these laws, if enacted without a thorough consultation process including awhite paper,could easily lead to future violations of basiccivil rights.[citation needed]

On 1 July 2003, he took part in a prayer gathering at Victoria Park before the1 July Marchbegan. Many Christians, including Catholics and those of other denominations, attended the demonstration.[citation needed]

Cardinal Zen attended the 4 June 2006 Prayer gathering in memory of the victims of the 1989 massacre. He asked the Chinese government to let the Chinese people freely discuss the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.[27]In September 2023 he also attended the trial of pro-democracy media tycoon and founder of influential tabloidApple DailyJimmy Lai.[28]

Education reform controversies

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Main article:School-Based Management Policy

On 5 June 2005, Zen announced that if the Legislative Council passed a proposal to support the schools to create incorporated management committees on 8 July 2005, he would appeal against the decision to the court.[citation needed]The Education (Amendment) Bill 2002, once enacted, would likely play down the role of the Church in running Catholic schools and in promoting Catholic education.[citation needed]However, after the Government gave up some argued points in the motion, the Diocese decided to support the motion, though the Diocese later announced plans to prosecute the Government on 28 September 2005.[citation needed]

After two teachers committed suicide in early January 2006, Zen said that these acts must be due to the educational reforms and he asked the government to halt new reforms. Then Permanent Secretary for Education and ManpowerFanny Lawrejected causal connections, but provoked furor among teachers and the public when she questioned why only two teachers committed suicide because of the reforms.[29]She apologised for her "inappropriate" remarks on 10 January.[30]

Tridentine Mass

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In 2021, Zen criticized Pope Francis'smotu proprioTraditionis custodes,stating that "Many tendentious generalizations in the documents [of the motu proprio] have hurt the hearts of many good people more than expected." He added that he believed that many people who had been hurt by the restrictions "have never given the smallest reason to be suspected of not accepting theliturgical reform of the [Second Vatican Council]."[31]

WTO affairs

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On 18 December 2005, Zen visited protesters at the2005 WTO Ministerial Conferenceand tried to visit the detained South Korean Catholics, including two priests and a nun.[citation needed]He criticised the Hong Kong police for their treatment of the protesters.[32]About one month later, several unions inHong Kong Police Forcedecided to write a letter to the Pope to complain about Zen's speech.[citation needed]Zen replied that some policemen were "sycophantic to the senior officers inside the police force".[citation needed]

Bibliography

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  • Way of the Cross with Pope Benedict XVI(2009)
  • L'agnello e il dragone: Dialoghi su Cina e Cristianesimo (2016)[33]- "The lamb and the dragon: Dialogues on China and Christianity"
  • Vi liễu hi ung, ngã quyết bất giam mặc (2018) - "For Zion, I will not remain silent"[34]
  • For Love of My People I Will Not Remain Silent: On the Situation of the Church in China(2019). San Francisco:Ignatius Press.ISBN978-1621643142
  • Cardinal Zen's Lenten Reflections(2024). Bedford, NH: Sophia Institute Press.ISBN979-8889110767

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Coat of Arms and Motto".Roman Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong. Archived fromthe originalon 9 January 2019.Retrieved9 January2019.
  2. ^"Archived copy".Archived fromthe originalon 1 July 2015.Retrieved1 July2015.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)Association for Conversation of Hong Kong Indigenous Languages Online Dictionary forHong Kong HakkaandHong Kong Punti (Weitou dialect)
  3. ^Scimia, Emanuele (29 January 2020)."The Vatican Stays Away from the Hong Kong Crisis Due to Fears of Beijing's Retaliation".Jamestown Foundation.Retrieved10 February2020.
  4. ^"Hong Kong police arrest retired Catholic cardinal on national security charges, release him on bail".11 May 2022.
  5. ^abAllen, Elise Ann (19 September 2022)."Trial set back but set to go ahead for Hong Kong's Cardinal Joseph Zen".Archivedfrom the original on 19 September 2022.
  6. ^ab"Zen Ze-kiun Card. Joseph, S.D.B."Holy See Press Office.Archivedfrom the original on 4 September 2017.
  7. ^Hương cảng chủ giáo trần nhật quân hoạch nhậm mệnh vi xu cơ chủ giáo(in Chinese). BBC News. 22 February 2006.
  8. ^[1][dead link]
  9. ^Gheddo, Piero (22 October 2011)."Card. Zen ends hunger strike for freedom of Hong Kong Catholic schools".Asianews.it.
  10. ^Gheddo, Piero (25 October 2011)."Card. Zen: My struggle and that of Hong Kong for Catholic schools".Asianews.it.
  11. ^"Cardinals Send 'Dubia' to Pope Francis Ahead of Synod on Synodality".NCR.2 October 2023.Retrieved4 October2023.
  12. ^Cardinal Zen Calls Pope Francis’ ‘Dubia’ Response on Same-Sex Blessings ‘Pastorally Untenable’
  13. ^Gheddo, Piero (20 October 2011)."I received millions and spent them for the Church and the poor, Card Zen says".Asianews.it.
  14. ^ab"Hong Kong's Cardinal Joseph Zen asks Pope Francis not to visit China".South China Morning Post.3 July 2014.Retrieved13 February2018.
  15. ^"Cardinal Zen addresses pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong".The Tablet.Retrieved1 October2014.
  16. ^"Cardinal says pope's top diplomat has 'poisoned mind' on China".Crux.16 October 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 31 August 2018.Retrieved13 February2018.
  17. ^"cardinal".Crux.Retrieved13 February2018.[permanent dead link]
  18. ^"Cardinal Zen: 'One wonders from which planet did our leaders in Rome descend?'".9 March 2019.
  19. ^Haggerty, Nicholas (3 December 2019)."Interview: Cardinal Joseph Zen".New Bloom.
  20. ^"Hong Kong's Catholics defy Vatican over protests".Financial Times.5 December 2019.Retrieved5 October2021.
  21. ^Pomfret, James; Pang, Jessie (11 May 2022)."Hong Kong police arrest Catholic cardinal on national security charge".Reuters.Retrieved11 May2022.
  22. ^"Ninety-year-old Cardinal Zen released on bail after being arrested on national security charges".The Standard.12 May 2022.Retrieved12 May2022.
  23. ^Brockhaus, Hannah (11 May 2022)."Vatican following news of Cardinal Zen's arrest 'with concern'".Catholic News Agency.
  24. ^Bukuras, Joe (11 May 2022)."Cardinal Zen arrest: A roundup of reactions".Catholic News Agency.
  25. ^Nichholls, Henry (12 May 2022)."UK government says arrest of Catholic cardinal in Hong Kong is unacceptable".Reuters.
  26. ^"Parolin expresses closeness to Cardinal Zen and desire to dialogue with China".Vatican News.13 May 2022.
  27. ^Trần nhật quân: Bất năng nhượng lục tứ bất liễu liễu chi(in Chinese). RTHK. 4 June 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 31 May 2008.
  28. ^Hui, Frances [@frances_hui] (18 December 2023)."The 91-year-old Cardinal Zen attended #JimmyLai's trial today. What a symbol of true strength and fearlessness in the face of oppression. #FreeJimmyLai"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
  29. ^Winnie Chong (10 January 2006)."Work pressure pushing teachers over the edge".The Standard.Archived fromthe originalon 22 May 2011.Retrieved31 July2008.
  30. ^Winnie Chong (11 January 2006)."Education chief sorry over suicide remarks".The Standard.Archived fromthe originalon 22 May 2011.Retrieved31 July2008.
  31. ^Brockhaus, Hannah (21 July 2021)."Cardinal Zen reacts to restrictions on Traditional Latin Masses".Catholic News Agency.Retrieved23 July2021.
  32. ^"... And They Call It Democracy".ohmynews.com. 21 December 2005. Archived fromthe originalon 24 June 2008.
  33. ^"L'AGNELLO E IL DRAGONE. Dialoghi su Cina e Cristianesimo di Cardinal Joseph Zen e Aurelio Porfiri".Chorabooks.16 March 2016.Retrieved17 November2018.
  34. ^"Vi liễu hi ung, ngã quyết bất giam mặc".Bình an để ngạn toàn kháo tha(in Chinese (Taiwan)). 5 November 2018.Retrieved17 November2018.
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Catholic Church titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Lorenzo Bianchi 		Coadjutor Bishopof Hong Kong
1996–2002 		Vacant
Title next held by
John Tong Hon
Preceded by Bishop of Hong Kong
2002–2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Cardinal-Priest ofSanta Maria Madre del Redentore a Tor Bella Monaca
2006–present 		Incumbent
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