Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Beijing (Agenzia Fides) - The parish of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Diocese of Beijing (known as Nan Tang, the "church of the South") continues the communal reading of the biography of Matteo Ricci, in paper and digital version. The initiative is part of the rich program to celebrate the 420th anniversary of the founding of the Church by the great Jesuit missionary from Macerata (Italy), and is also part of the parish's activities in the Holy Year of Hope.
According to the official "Wechat" account of the parish, today, February 27, the parish read the eighth chapter "Shanhai Yudi Quantu". The chapter deals with the first known map of the world in Chinese history, including the American continent, drawn up in Zhaoqing in 1584 by Father Ricci himself in collaboration with Chinese scientists. The parish reading group has recorded the book as an audio file and made it available online so that parishioners can listen to the chapters read at any time of the day.
Carried by the light of the faith that Father Ricci professed and testified to 420 years ago, the parishioners of the Beijing Cathedral, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, are experiencing the Jubilee of Hope and, at the same time, the year in which they commemorate the founding of their parish. The special Jubilee Year began on January 14 with a solemn Eucharistic liturgy that combined the Jubilee celebrations of the Holy Year 2025 and the 420th anniversary of the founding. This day was also celebrated as the “Day of the Saints” of the Diocese of Beijing, in particular remembering the figures of Blessed Odorico da Pordenone (1286-1331), Blessed James Zhou Wenmo (martyr in Korea in 1795) and Venerable Matteo Ricci, as the diocese reports in a Vademecum entitled “Pilgrims of Hope and Builders of Peace”.
In his homily, Father Peter Zhao Jianmin spoke of the three figures who have marked the life of the diocese. Of Father Matteo Ricci, he says: “He travelled far to bring the flame of faith to this land. His wisdom, courage and devotion touched us all deeply...”, while the parish priest, Zhang Hongbo, had Pope Francis's papal Jubilee bull "Spes non confundit" distributed again in the church during the official announcement of the opening of the 420th anniversary of the founding of the church.
On Saturday, December 28, the opening of the Jubilee of Hope took place in the Diocese of Beijing. All priests and nuns as well as a large number of lay people from the Diocese of Beijing had gathered in the forecourt of the Cathedral dedicated to the Holy Savior, where Bishop Joseph Li Shan and the Coadjutor Bishop Matthew Zhen Xuebin presided over the solemn service to mark the beginning of the Jubilee Year in the capital of the People's Republic of China. Everyone listened in silence to the public reading of large passages from "Spes non confundit" and then marched in procession through the Holy Door, singing the "Prayer of the Saints" and receiving a copy of the Bull. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides, 27/2/2025)
AFRICA/DR CONGO - Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference detained at Lubumbashi airport without reason
AFRICA/ZIMBABWE - "May the abolition of the death penalty be a first step towards promoting the culture of life in prisons"
OCEANIA/AUSTRALIA - The first intercontinental meeting of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Asia and Oceania is currently taking place in Sydney
ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - Father Vincenzo and the wounds of Christ on the outskirts of Seoul
ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - In the Jubilee Year, Catholics entrust themselves to the intercession of Cardinal Stephen Kim, Servant of God
ASIA/INDONESIA - In the Holy Year, the new “Good News” website launched in Bahasa
ASIA/PAKISTAN - Jubilee Year: in the diocese of Multan there is hope for education