RESTRICTED
pa.
20
004741
MDLIAN 5956
RESTRICTED
FM HOLY SEE
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 14
OF 231438Z FEBRUARY 93
HKD 026/10
REC
AND TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
INFO SAVING ROME (HAS RETAINED A COPY)
24 FEE 1993
IN.
HONG KONG: VISIT BY CARDINAL RATZINGER (28 FEBRUARY 6 MARCH)
SUMMARY
1. CARDINAL RATZINGER, ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONALITIES IN VATICAN, WILL ATTEND REGIONAL GATHERING OF ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS IN HONG KONG FROM 28 FEBRUARY 6 MARCH.
DETAIL
2. CARDINAL JOSEPH RATZINGER, PREFECT OF CONGREGATION FOR DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH SINCE 1981, IS ABOUT TO VISIT HONG KONG FOR MEETING OF FEDERATION OF ASIAN BISHOPS' CONFERENCES. AFTER REQUEST FOR VISA HAD ALERTED US TO CARDINAL RATZINGER'S INTENTION TO TRAVEL TO HONG KONG, I CALLED ON HIM ON 23 FEBRUARY TO ASCERTAIN PURPOSE OF VISIT, AND WHETHER RATZINGER MIGHT REQUIRE ASSISTANCE. HE EXPLAINED THAT FEDERATION OF ASIAN BISHOPS' CONFERENCES, AT WHOSE HONG KONG HEADQUARTERS HE WILL BE BASED, ARE MEETING TO ADDRESS DOCTRINAL ISSUES. ASIAN MEETING IS LATEST IN SERIES OF REGIONAL GATHERINGS ORGANISED BY RATZINGER'S CONGREGATION, TO COMPLEMENT AD LIMINA VISITS TO ROME BY ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS, WHICH ARE ONLY FEASIBLE EVERY 5 YEARS.
3. RATZINGER WILL TRAVEL BY DIRECT ALITALIA FLIGHT AZ 1752, ETA HONG KONG 10.25 ON MORNING OF SUNDAY 28 FEBRUARY. HE WILL STAY AT FEDERATION OF ASIAN BISHOPS' CONFERENCES UNTIL 6 MARCH. WE LEFT IT THAT, IF GOVERNOR OR MEMBER OF HIS STAFF WOULD LIKE TO MAKE DIRECT CONTACT WITH RATZINGER AT FEDERATION'S PREMISES, THE CARDINAL WOULD BE DELIGHTED. RATZINGER COULD WELL PASS ON SOME USEFUL INSIGHTS. BUT HE FULLY UNDERSTANDS MANY OTHER DEMANDS ON OUR COLLEAGUES' TIME.
4. THE GERMAN-BORN RATZINGER IS 65. HE WAS CREATED CARDINAL BY POPE PAUL VI IN 1977, WHEN ARCHBISHOP OF FRIESING (MUNICH). HE IS AMONG
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