Cardinal Bertone notes positive reactions to Pope’s letter to Chinese Catholics

Vatican City, Jul 17, 2007 / 09:09 am

The Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, said this week the reactions of the faithful and the bishops to the Pope’s letter to Chinese Catholics have been quite positive.  “The amount of meditation and reflection, especially on the internet, by the Patriotic and clandestine communities has been extraordinary,” he said.

In considering the history of China, Cardinal Bertone pointed out that the moral thought of Confucius “has roots close to Christian roots.” “Confucius said that the man who is not a moral being is not truly a man.  The great tradition of Confucius was morality. The natural moral law is objectively insufficient not only in relation to the salvific design of God in Jesus Christ but also in regards to social life in the confines of the State and civil community in the confines of religious life,” the cardinal explained.

The Vatican Secretary of State said that so far Chinese institutions have not given any clear signals in response to the letter, “which we are awaiting.”  “We are at a moment of reflection and of re-thinking.  The letter has a sense of faith in the Chinese people and in their leaders because it looks again at the considerations towards the Catholic Church, which desires to collaborate with the good of the Chinese people.”