Fr Lombardi statement on remarks attributed to bishop of Shanghai

(Vatican Radio) The Director of the Vatican Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, said the Holy See has no direct information on the declarations attributed to the auxiliary bishop of Shanghai. Father Lombardi  was responding to requests for information from various journalists following remarks attributed to Bishop Taddeo Ma Daqin where, writing in his blog, he praised the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association for its “irreplaceable role” in the development of the Church in China. Bishop Ma Daqin has spent four years under house arrest for quitting the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association and the Chinese authorities also forbade him from exercising his episcopal ministry. 

Please see below a translation into English of Father Lombardi’s remarks:

In response to requests for information from various journalists, I am able to say the following:

1) With regard to the recent declarations attributed to Msgr. Taddeo Ma Daqin, auxiliary bishop of Shanghai, these have come to the attention of the Holy See through his blog and via press agencies. No direct information is currently available.

2)  Any speculation with regard to a presumed role of the Holy See is inappropriate.

3)  The personal and ecclesial life of Msgr. Ma Daqin, like that of all Chinese Catholics, is followed with particular care and concern by the Holy Father, who remembers them daily in prayer.