DECLARATION ON CARDINAL ETCHEGARAY'S VISIT TO CHINA

VATICAN CITY, SEP 12, 2000 (VIS) - Following is a declaration made today by Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls on Cardinal Roger Etchegaray's forthcoming trip to Beijing, China:

"I have been asked about the significance of Cardinal Roger Etchegaray's participation in a symposium on 'Religions and Peace' that will be held in Beijing, China, from September 14 to 16, within the framework of the Social Sciences Academy and organized by an Italo-Chinese cultural association.

"The cardinal will be participating in a purely personal capacity and has not been given any kind of diplomatic mission. Any contacts he may make cannot be interpreted as a recognition of the existing ecclesiastical structures.

"The cardinal's journey simply accords with the logic of the message that, on December 8, 1999, Pope John Paul II addressed to all Chinese Catholics without distinction: "I learned with joy that you wish to offer, as a precious gift for the celebration of the Great Jubilee, unity between yourselves and with Peter's Successor. This intention can only be the fruit of the Spirit that leads His Church along the difficult paths of reconciliation and unity'."

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