ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE. Pope Francis praised China as a “promise and hope” for the Catholic Church on Friday, expressing his optimism about ongoing relations between the Vatican and Beijing. His comments came during a press conference aboard the papal plane, returning from a four-nation tour in Asia.
The Pope’s remarks coincided with the Vatican’s ongoing negotiations with China to renew a 2018 agreement concerning the appointment of bishops. Despite challenges, Francis expressed satisfaction with the dialogue: “I’m happy with the dialogue with China. The result is good,” he said, emphasizing the goodwill on both sides.
Speaking about his long-held desire to visit China, Francis called the country “a great nation” and added, “I admire China. I respect China. It’s a country with a millennial culture, with a capacity for dialogue and understanding that goes beyond other systems of democracy.”
Since the Communist Party’s rise to power over seven decades ago, relations between the Vatican and China had been strained. One of the most contentious issues is the appointment of bishops, with China insisting on its sovereignty in choosing church leaders while the Vatican upholds the Pope’s authority in appointing successors of the Apostles.
The 2018 deal attempted to find a compromise but has faced criticism. While acknowledging some setbacks, the Vatican described it as a necessary agreement. The accord was signed at a time when China was increasing restrictions on religious practices, especially Christianity and Islam, which the government views as foreign influences that could challenge its authority.
Despite the ongoing challenges, Pope Francis reiterated his belief in the future of the Church in China: “I think China is a promise and a hope for the church,” he stated.
Pope Francis Criticizes U.S. Presidential Candidates Over Abortion and Migration Policies
Pope Francis sharply criticized both U.S. presidential candidates on Friday for their stances on key issues concerning the Catholic Church, particularly abortion and migration. Speaking to reporters aboard the papal plane on his return from a four-nation tour through Asia, Francis urged American Catholics to vote for the “lesser evil” in the upcoming elections.
“Both are against life, be it the one who kicks out migrants or be it the one who kills babies,” Francis declared, though he refrained from mentioning the candidates, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, by name. The Pope has long championed the rights of migrants and strongly upholds the Church’s stance against abortion.
On the issue of abortion, Francis was unequivocal: “To have an abortion is to kill a human being. You may like the word or not, but it’s killing,” he said. He urged voters to exercise their civic duty responsibly, remarking, “One should vote and choose the lesser evil.”
The Pope’s remarks came as both the Trump and Harris campaigns were under fire for their respective policies on these sensitive topics. Trump has been criticized for his hardline stance on immigration, which includes pledges of mass deportations. Meanwhile, Harris, along with President Joe Biden, has advocated for the reinstatement of federal abortion rights, drawing criticism from Catholic leaders.
When questioned about the dilemma Catholic voters face, Francis said, “Everyone in their conscience should think and do it.”
The U.S. bishops conference has emphasized abortion as a top priority for Catholic voters, placing them at odds with Biden, a practicing Catholic, who supports abortion rights. Despite this, Biden’s meeting with Pope Francis in 2021 reportedly ended on good terms, with Biden quoting the Pope as saying he was a “good Catholic.”
Francis also recalled his previous criticisms of Trump’s border wall, once stating that anyone who builds walls to exclude others “is not Christian.” On Friday, he reflected on his experience celebrating Mass at the U.S.-Mexico border, saying, “There were so many shoes of the migrants who ended up badly there.”
In closing, the Pope reiterated the Church’s stance on abortion, firmly stating: “Performing an abortion is killing a human being. Whether you like the word or not, this is killing. The Church does not allow abortion because it’s killing. It is murder.”
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
