DECLARATION ON CANONIZATION OF 120 MARTYRS IN CHINA

VATICAN CITY, SEP 26, 2000 (VIS) - The following declaration was made this afternoon by Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls concerning the canonization on Sunday, October 1, of 120 martyrs in China:

"The declaration made on September 26 by the spokesman of the foreign affairs ministry in Beijing, Sun Yuxi, can only deeply sadden those who see in the imminent canonization of 120 martyrs in China the exaltation of men and women, the majority of whom were Chinese citizens (87 of 120), who knew how to live their own commitment to faith with coherence, up to the point of giving their lives.

"Next Sunday's ceremony has no political motivation and is not directed against anyone, much less the great Chinese people, whose traditions of civility have always been recognized and appreciated by the Holy See, in particular by Pope John Paul II.

"To accuse this body of witnesses (including defenseless men and women of all ages) of 'enormous crimes' is the result of a unilateral reading of history and a mystification, if concrete proofs are not presented.

"Obviously, it is entirely something else to talk about the misdeeds which were sometimes committed by the colonial powers. But whoever reads dispassionately and with objectivity the biographies of the well-deserving missionaries who will be canonized next Sunday can only be struck by and filled with admiration at their self-denial and their desire to serve the Chinese people.

"Besides, as is well known, the Holy See proceeds with a beatification or a canonization only after a very serious and deeply studied examination, not only of the sources of the historical testimonials but also of the heroic virtues of the persons to be honored. How is it possible to imagine that the Holy See would canonize persons who have committed 'enormous crimes'? If it were true that historical reality had been distorted, why did the Chinese community - civil and religious - not react against the processes of beatification of the 120 martyrs, which were celebrated starting in 1893, during the pontificate of Leo XIII?
"With the canonization, the intention is not to formulate a judgment on complex historical periods, during which the majority of the 120 martyrs were called to give their own supreme witness. The solemn ceremony aims instead at making the light of their faith in Christ, Savior of all men, shine before the Church and the eyes of people of good will from throughout the world."

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