CONFIDENTIAL
116.
ра
030525
MDHIAN 0109
HKB 020/14.
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HOLY SEE
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 49
OF 201535Z JUNE 89
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, HONG KONG
MIPT VATICAN ND CHINA
1.
MONSIGNOR CELLI, WHO HAS GEOGRAPHICAL RESPONSIBILITY WITHIN THE SECRETARIAT OF STATE FOR CHINA AND ON WHOM I CALLED TODAY, SAID THAT IT WAS UNUSUAL FOR THE POPE TO COMMENT ON POLITICAL SITUATIONS IN PRAYER FORM. (COMMENT: THE POPE'S CALL FOR PEACE IN THE LEBANON ON 5 APRIL WAS FOR INSTANCE DIRECTED PRINCIPALLY AT THE NATIONS CONCERNED TO HELP RESOLVE THE PRESENT CRISIS.) NEVERTHELESS, THOUGH THE POPE DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY MENTION THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, THE SUBJECT OF HIS PRAYER FOR ENLIGHTENMENT IS QUITE OBVIOUS AND COULD WELL BE ILL-RECEIVED BY THE AUTHORITIES. MONS CELLI WAS ANXIOUS TO KNOW HOW THE POPE'S WORDS WOULD HAVE BEEN RECEIVED IN CHINA. I SHOULD THEREFORE BE GRATEFUL IF HM EMBASSY PEKING COULD REPORT ANY REACTIONS, PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, FOR US TO PASS ON TO THE HOLY SEE.
2. CELLI WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY PARTICULAR REACTIONS AGAINST CHRISTIANS IN CHINA SINCE THE CRACKDOWN IN TIENANMEN SQUARE. HE KNEW OF THREE MAIFESTATIONS OF CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY FOR THE STUDENTS BEFORE THE 4 JUNE EVENTS. THE FIRST WAS A SHOW OF SUPPORT BY LIU BAIJANG (TRANSLITERATION), VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COMMISSION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND EX-VICE PRESIDENT OF THE CPA, WHOM CELLI DESCRIBED AS THE MOST POWERFUL CATHOLIC LAYMAN IN CHINA SEMI COLON LIU BAIJANG WAS HOWEVER AGAINST THE HUNGER STRIKE. THE SECOND WAS A STATEMENT BY BISHOP TING IN FAVOUR OF THE STUDENTS. THE THIRD WAS
A PHOTO OF CHRISTIANS IN TIENANMEN SQUARE BRINGING FOOD FOR THE STUDENTS AND WAVING PLACARDS SEMI COLON THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF
THEIR PARTICULAR CHRISTIAN DENOMINATION. AFTER 4 JUNE CELLI SAID
THAT THE CATHOLIC BISHOP OF SHANGHAI HAD DECLINED TO COMMENT IN PUBLIC ON THE GROUNDS THAT HE WAS CONCERNED WITH RELIGION AND NOT
POLITICS.
3 BY AGREEMENT WITH F.E.D. I GAVE CELLI THE GIST OF PEKING TELEGRAMS 1103-5, 1167 AND 1172. HE WAS GRATEFUL FOR THE BACKGROUND. (COMMENT. IT IS INTERESTING THAT THE VATICAN HAVE APPARENTLY RECEIVED HARDLY ANY INFORMATION THROUGH PRIVATE ECCLESIASTRICAL
CHANNELS SINCE JUNE 4. MUCH OF THIS SEEMS TO COME NORMALLY VIA
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