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CV NEWS FEED // Cardinal Joseph Zen, a vocal critic of both Chinese government repression and the Vatican’s controversial dealings with Beijing, has been granted permission to leave Hong Kong and travel to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis.
Cardinal Zen, 93, departed April 23 after a court approved the temporary return of his passport, Associated Press reported. The cardinal’s passport had been confiscated following his 2022 arrest under Beijing’s sweeping national security law.
At the time, Cardinal Zen had been a vocal supporter of pro-democracy figures and an outspoken opponent of Chinese interference in Church affairs.
Though retired from official duties, Cardinal Zen remains an influential voice. He has repeatedly criticized the Vatican’s agreement allowing the Chinese government to vet candidates for bishop. He also has accused Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state and a key architect of that deal, of being “a man of little faith,” AP reported.
The controversial Vatican-China agreement, first signed in 2018 and renewed in 2024, allows the Chinese Communist Party to propose candidates for bishop. Critics contend the arrangement has undermined the Church’s mission in China, as Communist authorities continue to dominate the bishop selection process — sidelining the Vatican’s influence.
The funeral of Pope Francis is scheduled for April 26, CatholicVote reported. While Cardinal Zen will be present, he will not take part in electing the next pope due to his age.
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