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Pope Francis meets Hong Kong Cardinal Zen


Cardinal Zen with Pope Francis. Vatican Media

Cardinal Zen with Pope Francis. Vatican Media

Source: Vatican News/America

Pope Francis has met with Cardinal Joseph Zen, Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong, who visited Rome for the funeral of Benedict XVI. The meeting took place on Friday in Casa Santa Marta, the Pope's residence. The 90-year-old Chinese prelate was created a cardinal by the Pope Emeritus in 2006.

America magazine reports that Pope Francis gave Zen books and a rosary as gifts and granted him permission to visit and pray in front of Benedict's tomb, in the crypt of St Peter's Basilica.

The Pope reportedly showed Cardinal Zen a replica statue of Our Lady of Sheshan. The Cardinal said he hoped Pope Francis might visit the shrine one day. Cardinal Zen also told Pope Francis about the pastoral work he had done with prisoners in Hong Kong over the past ten years.

"It was wonderful, Pope Francis was warm," Cardinal Zen reportedly said after the meeting.

Cardinal Zen is currently being investigated for possible 'national security law breaches' in Hong Kong. He was arrested last year with five other people when the authorities began investigating the now-closed 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, stablished to aid participants of the 2019 pro-democracy demonstrations, on suspicion of "colluding with foreign forces." In November the six were fined up to HK$4,000 (about £423) after being convicted of failing to register the fund.

The West Kowloon Court granted him the return of his passport to attend the funeral. The Cardinal had to give his passport back to police on his return.

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