DECLARATION ON SUPPOSED LIBERATION OF TWO BISHOPS IN CHINA

VATICAN CITY, MAR 22, 1999 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls today made the following declaration concerning a presumed appeal made by the Holy See for the liberation in China of the bishop of Baoding and his auxiliary:

"The Secretariat of State up until now has taken no step concerning the liberation of the two bishops of Baoding. The circulation of such news was a personal initiative of Fr. Bernardo Cervellera, not agreed on by authorities at the Secretariat of State.

"Regarding relations with China, Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran's interview in today's 'Corriere della Sera' (an Italian daily newspaper) adequately explains this point. Obviously, only the Secretariat of State is qualified to say what the Holy See wishes or does not wish to say. Therefore the ideas raised in the International Fides Service are Fr. Cervellera's personal opinions for which he assumes full responsibility."

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