VATICAN CITY — Cardinal Joseph Zen, the highly respected Bishop emeritus of Hong Kong, is cautioning his brother Cardinals to be aware of manipulation through slow-rolling novelties being introduce within the Vatican’s Synod on Synodality, according to a letter obtained by The Daily Wire.
Zen, who was one of five Cardinals who pressed Pope Francis in July for definitive answers on hot button issues such as the blessing of gay marriage and ordination of women, writes in his letter that he, as one of the most elder Cardinals, feels “duty-bound” to speak out.
“I am your confrere Joseph Zen from the far-off island of Hong Kong, a 91-year old man, ordained bishop more than 26 years ago,” Zen writes. “I write this letter because, conscious of being still in possession of my mental faculties, I feel duty-bound to safeguard … the sacred traditions of Catholic faith.”
Cardinal Zen closes his letter encouraging his brothers to raise their concerns with the Pope, and to be “courageous” in their participation in what he believes is a “Synod without precedents.”
The Pope responded to the questions Zen issued in July, but the Cardinals said his responses needed clearer answers, and reformed their questions in August so that they might receive “yes or no” in return. Cardinal “Tucho” Fernandez, the new Prefect of the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) and close confidant of the Pope, told ABC that his answers were more than sufficient, and signaled that there would be no further clarification.
Cardinal Joseph Zen, a member of the Salesian Order of missionaries, has long advocated for the Chinese people, often placing him at odds with the Vatican Secretariat of State and even receiving a snubbing by Pope Francis —in 2020, Zen traveled to the Vatican in an unsuccessful attempt to meet with the Pope to discuss the Chinese Communist Party.
Cardinal Zen closes his letter, encouraging his brothers to raise their concerns with the Pope, and to be “courageous” in their participation in what he believes is a “Synod without precedents.”
The Synod, a summit on the direction of the Catholic Church in the 21st century, was opened by Pope Francis on Wednesday, and more than 400 have descended on the Vatican to participate. The Pope said its purpose is “to refocus our gaze on God, to be a church that looks mercifully at humanity.”
Zen, due to his old age, has said he will likely not travel to the Vatican again.
In his letter, he voices concerns that rhetoric propagated that the voice of the Faithful (voce popoli) somehow supersedes that of the Successors of the Apostles (Bishops), in almost a democratic way, contrary to the history and foundation of the Catholic Church.
He also warns against a “novelty” for the modern century.
The letter, on letterhead and signed by the Cardinal on September 21st, is provided in full below, exclusively by The Daily Wire:
Zen to Cardinals and Bishops Members Synod by bscher on Scribd