Walking the tightrope between the Vatican and China, Cardinal Chow calls for understanding

Cardinal Stephen Chow of Hong Kong urges laypeople and clergy alike to view dialogue with the Chinese government less as a political bargaining chip and more as a pastoral mission shared by all.

During a visit to Australia this week, Cardinal Chow delivered lectures in Sydney and Melbourne on his role as a bridge-builder between the Vatican and the Chinese government, a task he said is not as daunting as one would expect.

‘Firstly, empathy is two levels, the head and the heart. You cannot just have the head or just have the heart. Both have to inform each other,’ he said, emphasising that genuine understanding underpins any fruitful exchange.

‘My partner in communication will start opening up, because now at least you understand me, and also, you facilitate the willingness of the other party to understand me, to feel for me. I’ve been saying this to people in China’s government … communists are human beings too, right? And they also have hearts that yearn for love, yearn for respect. They yearn for understanding.’

I believe Beijing wants to keep the religious freedom intact in Hong Kong, because Hong Kong is important for China.

He cautioned against simplistic assumptions about Beijing’s understanding of the Church, insisting that the Chinese government is ‘very well versed’ in theology, canon law and the deeper threads of Catholic thought. ‘They sent people out already to study theology, advanced theology, canon law, Scriptures. [They] study many things in the Church, so they’re informed.’

On the situation in Hong Kong, Cardinal Chow sought to dispel a perception of pervasive religious persecution. ‘May I sincerely say that religious persecution per se is not happening in Hong Kong. I also checked with other churches and religions in Hong Kong. None of them said they have experienced that now.’

He said Hong Kong remained a place where religious freedom continued to exist in practical terms. ‘So I believe ... Beijing wants to keep the religious freedom intact in Hong Kong, because Hong Kong is important for China. So, common law, religious freedom, all these are important too for people to believe. I can still come here [Australia]. We can still ordain a priest. Religious education in school is still possible.’

Cardinal Chow advocated for a new approach that moves beyond adversarial Western models. ‘In the West, you see things very upfront, openly,’ he said. ‘I think this works in the West, but in the East—not just China, but definitely China—if you continue criticising another person publicly, directly and sharply, the other person is not going to listen to you. Communication 101: why do you want to communicate? Because you want the other person to hear what you say, whether they agree or not.

‘So, we have to consider that type of cultural relationship, to give face to people. Privately, in another, more indirect way, maybe you can do that. I have tried and it worked sometimes. If you can reach the person, they see that you’re being genuine, sincere.’

It is not just the issue of control of the Church in China that concerns him. There is also the pastoral challenge of youth leaving the Church, particularly as a result of the mass emigration of young families from Hong Kong since 2019, as a consequence of large-scale protests against China’s tightening grip on the territory, and China’s subsequent brutal crackdown.

Cardinal Chow stressed the need for the Church to go out proactively and bring people in, rather than waiting for them to come. He advocated for a ministry towards youth characterised by genuineness, sincerity, and a willingness to share difficulties and apologise. Importantly, he said, Church leaders should show vulnerability and model humility.

‘I think in the Catholic Church, our issue is we always sit around and wait for God to send people to us, you know. But I see other Christian denominations—they don’t do that. They go out.

‘We also are struggling [with] too many young people kind of turned off by the Church. It’s understandable when they feel they’re not being understood and they feel that what they count on you [to do], you’re not doing.

‘I think, with respect, we must have hope in our young people,’ he said, citing the energy seen at large Catholic gatherings as a source of inspiration. ‘The more I work with young people—look at that World Youth Day, or the Jubilee Youth Day­—the condition was pretty harsh, but they go in there with a passion, and they adapt. They complain, but they are fine.

‘We need to learn how to apologise, be willing to apologise, to young people, and they learn from us that they can apologise too, that it’s okay to be weak, it’s okay to goof up. [It’s saying,] I’m not perfect, far from perfect, but can we walk together?’

Cardinal Chow said the path forward was less about flawless leadership and more about honest dialogue, mutual respect and a shared commitment, whether that is to the Church’s future in China or to accompanying young people as they grow in faith. In his home of Hong Kong, he said, this depends on building bridges that promote understanding, empathy and trust.