{"id":2427105,"date":"2025-04-24T16:51:02","date_gmt":"2025-04-24T20:51:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hong-kong-gives-cardinal-his-passport-back-for-pope-franciss-funeral\/"},"modified":"2025-04-24T16:52:24","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T20:52:24","slug":"hong-kong-gives-cardinal-his-passport-back-for-pope-franciss-funeral","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hong-kong-gives-cardinal-his-passport-back-for-pope-franciss-funeral\/","title":{"rendered":"Hong Kong gives cardinal his passport back for Pope Francis&#8217;s funeral"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhong-kong-gives-cardinal-his-passport-back-for-pope-franciss-funeral%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2427105&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>former Hong Kong Archbishop Joseph Zen has been allowed to leave Hong Kong to attend Pope Francis&#8217;s funeral after having his passport returned. Zen, aged 93, had his passport confiscated following his arrest in 2022 for allegedly not properly registering the pro-democracy 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund. His secretary confirmed he traveled to Rome after receiving permission.<\/p>\n<p>Zen has been an outspoken critic of the Chinese government&#8217;s policies and its arrangement with the Vatican regarding the appointment of bishops, which he labeled a &#8220;catastrophe.&#8221; Despite attending the funeral, Zen, who retired as archbishop in 2009, is too old to participate in the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">upcoming papal conclave<\/a>. He previously traveled to Rome in 2023 for the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI but cut his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/french-presidential-candidate-zemmour-backs-uk-turning-migrant-boats-back\/\" title=\"French Presidential Candidate Zemmour Backs UK Turning Migrant Boats Back\">visit short<\/a> due to health issues.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Hong Kong gives cardinal his passport back for Pope Francis&rsquo;s funeral after 2022 arrest<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2102754\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/china\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"China\">China<\/a> is allowing former <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hong-kong\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"China\">Hong Kong<\/a> Archbishop Joseph Zen to leave the country to attend <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pope-francis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Pope Francis's\">Pope Francis<\/a>&lsquo;s funeral. The cardinal had his passport confiscated after he was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/1578774\/hong-kongs-catholic-cardinal-zen-prosecuted-by-china\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">arrested in 2022<\/a> for allegedly failing to register the pro-democracy 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund properly.<\/p>\n<p>His secretary <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/cardinal-joseph-zen-hong-kong-vatican-pope-francis-be3794bc1922c54f16e35196fbe80ed6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"told\">told<\/a> the <em>Associated Press<\/em> that the 93-year-old retired bishop departed Hong Kong for Rome on Wednesday. <\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3389925\/india-blamed-pakistan-terrorist-attack-kashmir-conflict\/\">India has blamed Pakistan for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/flashback-former-ag-barr-initiated-spying-program-on-americans-back-in-1992\/\" title=\"FLASHBACK: Former AG Barr Initiated Spying Program on Americans Back in 1992\">terrorist attack<\/a> in Kashmir. What you need to know<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3389944\/trump-51st-state-mark-carney-canada-election\/\">Trump&#8217;s &#8217;51st state&#8217; rhetoric does Carney no favors in Canada election home stretch<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3389801\/russian-attack-kyiv-trump-peace-deal\/\">Russia launches worst attack on Kyiv in months as Trump fights for peace deal<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Zen was similarly granted permission to fly to Rome in 2023 to attend the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. He met with Pope Francis then, but health problems cut the visit short.<\/p>\n<p>Zen retired as archbishop of Hong Kong in 2009, but has remained active in church politics. Although he&rsquo;s traveling to Rome, he is too old to participate in the conclave for the next pope.<\/p>\n<p>He is known for his outspoken criticism of the Chinese government, even criticizing a provisional <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/hong-kong-catholic-cardinal-zen-prosecuted-china\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">deal between the Vatican and China<\/a>. The specific terms of the deal, which were first agreed to in September 2018 and then renewed in October 2020 and October 2022, remain a secret.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen attends a Mass at the Holy Cross Church in Hong Kong on May 24, 2022. (AP Photo\/Kin Cheung, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The deal aims to quash the primary source of contention, the appointment of bishops, which is a modern-day form of the Medieval <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldhistory.org\/Investiture_Controversy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Investiture controversy\">Investiture controversy<\/a>. The 2018 deal was secretive but involved a joint Beijing-Rome commission to appoint bishops, a provision <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/1874479\/vatican-condemns-china-for-violating-secretive-deal-on-bishops\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"violated by China\">violated by China<\/a> in November 2022.<\/p>\n<p>The Catholic Church in China is split between the underground church, recognized by most Catholics as the true church, and the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, which is sponsored by Beijing.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/1578774\/hong-kongs-catholic-cardinal-zen-prosecuted-by-china\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"HONG KONG&rsquo;S CATHOLIC CARDINAL ZEN PROSECUTED BY CHINA\">HONG KONG&rsquo;S CATHOLIC CARDINAL ZEN PROSECUTED BY CHINA<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Zen denounced the deal with Beijing in 2018 as a &ldquo;catastrophe,&rdquo; slamming Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, the head of negotiations with Beijing, as a &ldquo;man of little faith&rdquo; who didn&rsquo;t understand the &ldquo;true suffering&rdquo; of Chinese Catholics. Parolin is viewed as one of the top contenders to be the next pope.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Mainland brothers and sisters fear not losing all they have, the prison cell or shedding their blood,&rdquo; Zen wrote. &ldquo;Their greatest suffering is being sold out by their &lsquo;loved ones.&rsquo;&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2102754\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2102754\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hong Kong returns passport to Cardinal Zen for Pope&#8217;s funeral<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2427106,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Joseph-Zen.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[14328,38254,23520],"class_list":["post-2427105","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-cardinal","tag-hong-kong","tag-passport"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Joseph-Zen.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2427105","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2427105"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2427105\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2427109,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2427105\/revisions\/2427109"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2427106"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2427105"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2427105"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2427105"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}