by Franco Pisano

In the text that the bishop of Hong Kong prepared for the pope's Way of the Cross, the lack of religious freedom and the persecution of those who remain faithful, the betrayal of some pastors and the "standing beside" the underground Church.

Rome (AsiaNews) - The lack of religious freedom and the injustices done by the state, the "betrayal" of some bishops and the faithfulness of those who are persecuted, the hope and expectation of the Church's "victory" and the prayer to be "like the grain of wheat". The entire reality of the Chinese Church is contained in the meditations that Cardinal Zen prepared for the Way of the Cross this year. Calling things by their name, without diplomatic tact, as understandable as this might be. Besides, he wrote in the presentation, "the pope wanted me to bring to the Colosseum the voice of those faraway sisters and brothers".

And also the voice of their persecutors. About them, at the beginning the cardinal confesses: "I had to make a great effort to purify myself from my hardly charitable sentiments toward those who made Jesus suffer, and those who in today's world are making our brothers suffer". But, when Jesus promises the kingdom to the good thief, the request "remember us" unites "friends and enemies" and even "the persecutors of our friends".

The meditations on the stations of the Way of the Cross open with the statement that "the Colosseums have been multiplied down through the centuries, wherever our brothers, in various parts of the world, are still persecuted today in the continuation of Your Passion". This destiny also touches the Church, which "is passing through the dark hour of persecution". Further on, at the moment of the judgment of Pilate, suffering becomes prayer: "illuminate the conscience of so many people in authority, so that they may recognise the innocence of your followers. Give them the courage to respect religious freedom". And again, it becomes solidarity with the mothers of the persecuted, evoked by the meeting of Jesus with the women. "We think", writes the cardinal, "of the mothers of so many young people who are persecuted and imprisoned on account of Christ. How many long nights have these mothers spent in sleeplessness and tears. We think of the mothers who, risking arrest and persecution, have continued to pray with their families, fostering in their hearts the hope for better times".

The stages along the path of Jesus continue to be woven together with references to the realities of the Chinese Church, even if these are not specifically named. Thus, at the betrayal of Judas, Cardinal Zen comments: "betrayal is a surprise, above all when it also involves the shepherds of the flock". And again: "temptations, threats, and extortion sway the will. But what a scandal! What suffering for the heart of Lord! Let us not be scandalised! Defections have never been lacking during persecution. And after, there often come returns". And they too, like the persecutors, are remembered in prayer. At the twelfth station, the prayer addressed to Jesus and Mary says: "accept the repentance of all of us, who because of our weakness are always exposed to the risk of betrayal, denial, and desertion", and "accept the homage of fidelity of all of those who have followed the example of Saint John, who remained courageously beside the cross".

"Protect the men that you have chosen, Lord", the cardinal continues, when he recalls the betrayal of Peter, "so that the gates of hell may never prevail over Your servants". These, in the final prayer, return to follow the will of God. "Are we right", he asks, "to be in a hurry and to demand to see an immediate victory for the Church? Is it not, perhaps, our own victory that we are anxious to see? Lord, make us persevere in standing beside the Church of silence, and in accepting to disappear and die like the grain of wheat".