CARDINAL ETCHEGARAY SPEAKS ABOUT TRIP TO CHINA

VATICAN CITY, SEP 13, 2000 (VIS) - Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, president of the Vatican's central committee for the Jubilee Year, has left for Beijing, China, to participate in an Italo-Chinese symposium on "Religions and Peace" from September 14 to 16 at the Institute of World Religions, a section of the Academy of Social Sciences of Beijing.

The symposium was organized by the Tian Xia Yi Jia ("under the very heavens only one family") cultural association, whose president is Prof. Giovagnoli of Milan's Sacred Heart University. The vice president is Fr. Lazzarotto, PIME.

Prior to his departure Cardinal Etchegaray granted an interview to Vatican Radio. Following are excerpts from that interview:

VATICAN RADIO: "You are already known in continental China...

ETCHEGARAY: "Yes, I made two previous trips, one in 1980 and again in 1993. The first one - I was still in Marseille (France) at the time - was important for its length - three weeks - and for the quality of contacts with highly placed Chinese. I was the first cardinal to visit Communist China, and I was able to see in person the serious difficulties that China was going through, but also the intrepid faith of the Catholics.

VATICAN RADIO: "But this time the religious situation seems even more complex...

ETCHEGARAY: "No one can deny the diverse positive aspects which indicate how the Catholic community is growing under the action of the Holy Spirit. However, it is true that some news stories which reach us are serious and not reassuring. In any case, one can never block the movement of history and Christians know that well just by looking at the Church's twenty centuries of history. The Gospel teaches us to always look forward, 'with our glance fixed on the Christ' of yesterday, today and tomorrow."

VATICAN RADIO: "... What are you thinking of doing in China to help Catholics?

ETCHEGARAY: "I don't know in advance: Starting with my first trip, twenty years ago, I pray every night for the Chinese people and for the Church in China. I would like to be able to give some little sign of hope. I am fully aware that my words, my gestures, though limited, risk being misunderstood, badly used. Eventual contacts will not be able to be interpreted as a recognition of existing ecclesiastical structures. My own desire is simply to be able to witness to everyone a sincere and determined will to dialogue without hiding any truths of the Church which Christ founded. I place myself totally in God's hands and also in the trust and fraternal prayer of all Catholics in China."

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