The head of the Catholic church in China, Joseph Li, embarked on a historic trip to Hong Kong at the invitation of Cardinal Stephen Chow, marking the first official visit by a Beijing bishop. This significant event is seen as a symbolic gesture that could strengthen the fragile relationship between China and the Vatican. During his five-day visit, Li visited the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and engaged in various activities aimed at promoting exchanges and interactions between the two dioceses.

The head of the Catholic church in China began a trip to Hong Kong on Tuesday at the invitation of the city’s pope-appointed Roman Catholic cardinal, marking the first official visit by a Beijing bishop in history. https://t.co/Z4wxn68Bjm

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Li participated in an evening prayer service at a chapel and exchanged gifts with Chow, highlighting the importance of fostering better communication between the sides. The visit comes after Chow's groundbreaking trip to Beijing in April, which marked the first visit to the Chinese capital by a Hong Kong bishop in nearly three decades. Experts believe that this invitation signifies a positive step towards enhancing the relationship between China and the Vatican. Beijing and the Vatican had severed diplomatic ties in 1951, resulting in a division among Chinese Catholics.

Some belong to the state-sanctioned church, while others form an underground church loyal to the pope. The Vatican recognizes members of both groups as Catholics but claims the exclusive right to choose bishops. The installation of Li in 2007 was well-regarded by the Vatican, indicating its approval at the time. In 2018, the Vatican and China signed an accord addressing the sensitive issue of bishop nominations. However, China has violated the agreement, as seen in the recent unilateral appointment of a new bishop of Shanghai.

Despite the challenges, Pope Francis has expressed optimism about the Vatican's relations with China, emphasizing the importance of demonstrating that the Catholic church is not beholden to a foreign power. During his trip to Mongolia, he sent a special greeting to China's "noble people" at the end of a Mass. While the 2018 agreement has faced harsh criticism, particularly from Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen, who was detained last year for alleged collusion with foreign forces, the visit by Li signifies a positive step towards bridging the gaps between China and the Vatican. As the relationship continues to evolve, there is hope for better communication and understanding between the two sides.