Cardinal Joseph Zen is auspiciously named. The cardinal’s courteous demeanour and gentle eloquence give him an air of serenity – which makes his attacks on the Chinese government all the more devastating.
Cardinal Zen, who is based in Hong Kong, has often warned the Vatican against any rapprochement with Beijing. He has criticised the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CPCA), the state-run “official” Church, for its subservience to the communist government. He has spoken frankly about the state’s human rights abuses.
