Vatican City, Mar 30, 2009 / 09:04 am
Last Saturday it was announced by the Vatican press office that the commission studying the importance of the Catholic Church in China since 2007 will meet at the Vatican March 30 – April 1.
The commission, which was created by Pope Benedict XVI, includes “superiors of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia with responsibility in this area, as well as certain representatives of the Chinese episcopate and of religious congregations.”
The first meeting of the commission, which took place March 10-12, 2008, discussed the letter the Holy Father addressed to Chinese Catholics on May 27, 2007. Participants “considered how that pontifical document was received, both inside and outside China” and “reflected upon the theological principles that inspired the Letter in order to understand the prospects arising therefrom for the Catholic community in China.”
According to an announcement for today’s meeting, it will focus on “certain aspects of the life of the Church in China” in the light of the Pope’s Letter with particular attention being given to “important ongoing religious questions.”