Cardinal Christoph Schönborn China claims papal critique over Uyghurs has ‘no factual basis at all’
Following Pope Francis’ mention in passing of the Uyghurs as persecuted in a new book, the Chinese foreign ministry said the claim is groundless.
“I think often of persecuted peoples: the Rohingya, the poor Uighurs, the Yazidi – what ISIS did to them was truly cruel – or Christians in Egypt and Pakistan killed by bombs that went off while they prayed in church,” Pope Francis is quoted as saying in the book, Let Us Dream, according to the AP.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian responded to Pope Francis’ mention of the Uyghurs by saying that there was “no factual basis at all” to the Pope’s comment.
“People of all ethnic groups enjoy the full rights of survival, development, and freedom of religious belief,” Mr Zhao said at a daily briefing, according to AP.
Cardinal Schönborn deplores attack on rabbi in Vienna
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn deplored an attack on a rabbi in the Austrian capital, Vienna.
Writing on his Twitter account November 27, the archbishop of Vienna said: “I am dismayed by yesterday’s attack on a rabbi in the middle of Vienna. I assure our fellow Jewish citizens of my complete solidarity. Anti-Semitism must have no place among us. It endangers the peaceful coexistence of us all.”
The Associated Press reported that a woman in her 50s confronted the rabbi with a knife on Thursday afternoon. She kicked him in the leg, knocked off his hat, then tore off his skullcap. Before running away, she shouted an anti-Semitic threat.
Austria’s Chancellor Sebastian Kurz condemned the attack.
Vatican dicastery urges youngsters to share wisdom of elderly people
A Vatican dicastery launched a new campaign urging young people to share wisdom gleaned from the elderly facing Christmas alone because of the pandemic.
In a press statement released November 27, the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life said that Christmas presented youngsters with the chance to “receive a special gift” from elderly people.
“Today, in the difficult circumstances of a Christmas still overshadowed by the pandemic, we are proposing that young people post on social media a memory, a piece of advice, or a ‘gift of wisdom’ they have received from one of the elderly people with whom they have formed a bond in recent months,” the dicastery said.
Vatican says bishop ordained in China is in communion with Pope
The Vatican confirmed that a bishop recently ordained in China is in full communion with the Pope and that more Vatican-approved nominations would be coming.
Bishop Thomas Chen Tianhao, 58, is the new bishop of Qingdao in Shandong province and was ordained November 23, according to AsiaNews.
Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, said in a written communique November 24 that Bishop Chen was the third bishop to be named and ordained within the regulatory framework of the provisional agreement between China and the Holy See regarding the appointment of bishops.
“I can also add that undoubtedly other episcopal consecrations are foreseen” given that work is currently underway for the appointment of several new bishops, Mr Bruni wrote.