View source for Joseph Zen

{{Short description|Chinese cardinal of the Catholic Church and former Bishop of Hong Kong}}
{{hatnote group|{{family name hatnote|[[Chen (surname)|Zen]]|lang=Chinese}}{{baptismal name|Joseph}}}}
{{redirect|Cardinal Zen|the music producer|Cardinal Zen (musician)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{use Hong Kong English|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = cardinal
| honorific-prefix = [[His Eminence]]
| name = Joseph Zen Ze-kiun
| honorific-suffix = [[Salesians of Don Bosco|SDB]]
| title = [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal]],<br />[[List of Roman Catholic bishops of Hong Kong|Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong]]
| image = Cardinal Joseph Zen (2019).jpg
| caption = Cardinal Zen in 2019
| church = [[Catholic Church]]
| province = 
| diocese = 
| see = [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong|Hong Kong]]
| enthroned = 23 September 2002
| ended = 15 April 2009
| predecessor = [[John Baptist Wu]]
| successor = [[John Tong Hon|John Tong]]
| other_post = Cardinal-Priest of [[Santa Maria Madre del Redentore a Tor Bella Monaca]] (2006–present)
| ordination = 11 February 1961
| ordained_by = [[Maurilio Fossati]]
| consecration = 9 December 1996
| consecrated_by = [[John Baptist Wu]]
| cardinal = 24 March 2006
| created_cardinal_by = [[Pope Benedict XVI]]
| rank = 
| previous_post = Coadjutor Bishop of Hong Kong (1996–2002)
| motto = {{lang|la|Ipsi Cura Est}}<br/>(English: "He cares")<ref>{{cite web |title = Coat of Arms and Motto |url = https://archives.catholic.org.hk/Succession%20Line/J-Zen-Motto.htm |access-date=9 January 2019 |publisher = Roman Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190109011859/https://archives.catholic.org.hk/Succession%20Line/J-Zen-Motto.htm |archive-date = 9 January 2019 }}</ref>
| birth_name = 
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1932|1|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Shanghai]], [[Republic of China (1912-49)|Republic of China]]
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| buried = 
| nationality = [[Chinese people|Chinese]]
| religion = [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholicism]]
| residence = 
| parents = 
| profession = 
| alma_mater = 
| signature = 
| coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Joseph Zen Ze-kiun.svg
| education = [[Salesian Pontifical University]]
}}
{{Infobox cardinal styles
| cardinal name = Joseph Zen
| dipstyle      = [[His Eminence]]
| offstyle      = Your Eminence
| image         = Coat of arms of Joseph Zen Ze-kiun.svg
| see           = Hong Kong (Emeritus)
|image_size=250px}}
{{Infobox Chinese
|t=陳日君
|s=陈日君
|h=Cin<sup>2</sup> Ngit<sup>5</sup> Giun<sup>1</sup> <ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.hkilang.org/NEW_WEB/page/dictionary |title=Archived copy |access-date=1 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150701164520/http://www.hkilang.org/NEW_WEB/page/dictionary |archive-date=1 July 2015  }} Association for Conversation of Hong Kong Indigenous Languages Online Dictionary for [[Hakka Chinese|Hong Kong Hakka]] and [[Punti|Hong Kong Punti (Weitou dialect)]]</ref>
|j=can{{Sup|4}} jat{{Sup|6}} gwan{{Sup|1}}
|p=Chén Rìjūn
|mi={{IPAc-cmn|ch|en|2|-|ri|4|jun|1}}
|ci={{IPA|yue|tsʰɐ̏n jɐ̀tkʷɐ́n|}}
|wuu={{IPA|wuu|zəɲ zəʔ tɕyəɲ|}}
|w=Ch'en<sup>2</sup> Jih<sup>4</sup>chün<sup>1</sup>
|myr=Chén R̀jyūn
|y=Chàhn Yahtgwān
}}
{{Ordination
| ordained deacon by = 
| date of diaconal ordination = 
| place of diaconal ordination = 
| ordained priest by = [[Maurilio Fossati]] ([[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Turin|Turin]])
| date of priestly ordination = 11 February 1961
| place of priestly ordination = [[Turin]], Italy
| consecrated by = [[John Baptist Wu]] ([[List of Roman Catholic bishops of Hong Kong|Hong Kong]])
| co-consecrators = [[Peter Shirayanagi]] ([[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tokyo|Tokyo]])<br />[[Charles Asa Schleck]] (Adj. Sec. [[Congregation for Propagation of the Faith|Sacr. Cong. Prop. Fide]])
| date of consecration = 9 December 1996
| place of consecration = [[Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Hong Kong)|Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception]], [[British Hong Kong]]
| elevated by = [[Pope Benedict XVI]]
| date of elevation = 24 March 2006
| bishop 1 = [[Luciano Capelli]]
| consecration date 1 = 21 October 2007
| sources = 
}}

'''Joseph Zen Ze-kiun''', [[Salesians of Don Bosco|SDB]] ([[Chinese language|Chinese]]: 陳日君 , born 13 January 1932) is a [[Catholic Church in China|Chinese Catholic]] prelate who served as [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong|Bishop of Hong Kong]] from 2002 to 2009. He was made a [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinal]] by [[Pope Benedict XVI]] in 2006 and has been outspoken on issues regarding human rights, [[Freedom (political)|political freedom]], and [[Freedom of religion|religious liberty]]. He is a member of the [[Salesians of Don Bosco]].

Zen's strong ties with Hong Kong's [[Pro-democracy camp (Hong Kong)|pro-democracy camp]] often attract criticism from the [[Pro-Beijing camp (Hong Kong)|pro-Beijing camp]] and the [[government of China]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Scimia|first=Emanuele|url=https://jamestown.org/program/the-vatican-stays-away-from-the-hong-kong-crisis-due-to-fears-of-beijings-retaliation/|title=The Vatican Stays Away from the Hong Kong Crisis Due to Fears of Beijing's Retaliation|date=29 January 2020|work=[[Jamestown Foundation]]|access-date=10 February 2020}}</ref> Zen retired on 15 April 2009, but remains a strong pro-democracy influence in Hong Kong. On 11 May 2022, he was arrested by the [[National Security Department|National Security Police]] and later that day released on bail.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://newsmediaempire.com/hong-kong-police-arrest-retired-catholic-cardinal-on-national-security-charges-release-him-on-bail/ | title=Hong Kong police arrest retired Catholic cardinal on national security charges, release him on bail | date=11 May 2022 }}</ref>

== Life and career ==
{{BLP sources section|date=September 2022}}
Joseph Zen was born in [[Shanghai]] to [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] parents, Vincent Zen and Margaret Tseu. He studied in a church school during the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]], but was sent to an [[abbey]] after his father suffered a stroke.

After entering the [[Salesians of Don Bosco|Salesians]] at the Hong Kong [[novitiate]] in 1948,<ref name="Allen-2022">{{Cite news|last=Allen |first=Elise Ann |date=19 September 2022 |title=Trial set back but set to go ahead for Hong Kong's Cardinal Joseph Zen |url=https://cruxnow.com/church-in-asia/2022/09/trial-opens-for-hong-kongs-cardinal-joseph-zen |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220919221004/https://cruxnow.com/church-in-asia/2022/09/trial-opens-for-hong-kongs-cardinal-joseph-zen |archive-date=19 September 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref> he was [[Holy Orders|ordained]] to the [[Priesthood (Catholic Church)|priesthood]] on 11 February 1961<ref name="Vatican-Office">{{Cite web| title= Zen Ze-kiun Card. Joseph, S.D.B. |publisher= [[Holy See Press Office]] | url= https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_zen-se-kiun_j.html |archive-date= 4 September 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170904070534/http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_zen-se-kiun_j.html  | url-status=live }}</ref> by Cardinal [[Maurilio Fossati]]. Zen obtained a [[Licentiate of Sacred Theology|licentiate in theology]] (1961) and a doctorate in philosophy (1964) from the [[Salesian Pontifical University]] in Rome. After 1973, he taught in the Holy Spirit Seminary College of Hong Kong&nbsp;– 1976 to 1978 of Macao Salesian School ([[Instituto Salesiano]]) as principal. In 1978 he became the [[Provincial Superior]] of Salesians (which includes mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan), then resigned in 1983. He was a lecturer in the [[seminaries]] in China, centres of studies acknowledged by the Communist party, between 1989 and 1996. He was appointed the [[Coadjutor bishop|coadjutor]] [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong|Bishop of Hong Kong]] in 1996 by [[Pope John Paul II]].<ref name="Allen-2022" /><ref name="Vatican-Office" />

===Retirement===
[[File:Bishop Joseph Zen-2002.jpg|thumb|Bishop Joseph Zen prayed with Catholics before the protest against Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23 legislation]]

On 18 September 2005, he told Hong Kong newspaper ''Apple Daily'' reporters that he was willing to retire in January 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/trad/hi/newsid_4730000/newsid_4739500/4739586.stm |script-title=zh:香港主教陳日君獲任命為樞機主教 |publisher=BBC News |date=22 February 2006 |language=zh}}</ref> He also said that he wanted to be a teacher in either mainland China or in Africa, as there was a shortage of teachers in Africa. [[Democratic Party (Hong Kong)|Democratic Party]] ex-chairman [[Martin Lee]], also a Roman Catholic, stated that because Zen was still healthy for his age, the Pope may request him to stay in his position. Legislative Council member [[Audrey Eu]] praised Zen for being braver than other religious leaders in Hong Kong in sharing his political views and also because "he carried out his ideas of fairness, equitableness, and philanthropy via actual efforts". On the other hand, some conservatives inside the church speculated that the strained relationship between Beijing and the [[Holy See]] will become more relaxed if Zen retires. Nonetheless, Zen wrote a letter to the Pope on 13 January 2006 and stated that he did want to retire from his position, though not because of his age. On 15 April 2009, Pope Benedict accepted Zen's resignation and [[John Tong Hon]] became the bishop of the [[diocese]].<ref>[http://212.77.1.245/news_services/bulletin/news/23712.php?index=23712&lang=en]{{Dead link|date=January 2011}}</ref>

From 22 October 2011 for three days Zen went on [[hunger strike]] which was undertaken as an act of protest against losing a long-standing legal battle with the Hong Kong government over how aided schools should be run.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gheddo |first=Piero |url=http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Card.-Zen-ends-hunger-strike-for-freedom-of-Hong-Kong-Catholic-schools-22985.html |title=Card. Zen ends hunger strike for freedom of Hong Kong Catholic schools |publisher=Asianews.it |date= 22 October 2011}}</ref> He later wrote about his experiences in an open letter.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gheddo |first=Piero |url=http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Card.-Zen:-My-struggle-and-that-of-Hong-Kong-for-Catholic-schools-23003.html |title=Card. Zen: My struggle and that of Hong Kong for Catholic schools |publisher=Asianews.it |date= 25 October 2011}}</ref>

===Cardinalate===
[[Image:Coat of arms of Joseph Zen Ze-kiun.svg|thumb|Coat of Arms of Cardinal Zen. The motto is {{lang|la|Ipsi cura est}} is from [[First Epistle of Peter|1 Peter]] 5:7. In English it says: "He cares."|alt=A coat of arms showing a big anchor in gold, a brown ship with a silver sail with a red cross on the see. On the background, an orange city skyline with a characteristic skyscraper. Towering over the skyline, a red pillar with a radiant gold custody and a lower red pillar with a blue Madonna. The background is silver. Behind the coat itself, a gold crozier. Above the coat of arms a red cardinal's hat. From the hat, cardinal strings hang to the sides. Under the coat of arms a red scroll with the black motto "IPSI CURA EST".]]

On 22 February 2006, the Vatican announced that Zen would be elevated to the [[College of Cardinals]] by [[Pope Benedict XVI]] in the [[papal consistory|consistory]] on 24 March 2006. Zen, who was created [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal-Priest]] of [[Santa Maria Madre del Redentore a Tor Bella Monaca]], saw his elevation as indication of how much the Pope values the Church in China. He was named a member of the [[Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments]].

Zen's elevation was welcomed by Catholics in Hong Kong as it was seen as a recognition of his stance on social justice and as an honour for the church in Hong Kong. Vicar General [[Dominic Chan|Dominic Chan Chi-ming]] said that it would be an honour to have a cardinal to once again head the diocese. Rev. [[Louis Ha Ke-loon]] said it shows that the Pope feels that Zen should speak out. Democrat legislator Martin Lee added that it was good news because no matter whether he is a bishop or a cardinal, as a religious leader Zen speaks as moral voice of the people.

At the time of his elevation, Zen was the only Chinese cardinal eligible to participate in papal conclaves.

Zen offered a [[Pontifical High Mass]] in the [[Tridentine Mass|Tridentine Rite]] in May 2006, for which he was thanked by [[traditionalist Catholic]]s around the world.

Pope Benedict XVI named Zen to write the meditations for the [[Way of the Cross|Stations of the Cross]] led by the Pope at the Roman [[Colisseum]] on [[Good Friday]], 21 March 2008.

In August 2023,Cardinal Brandmüller, along with Cardinals Burke, [[Juan Sandoval Íñiguez|Íñiguez]], [[Robert Sarah|Sarah]], and Zen, submitted another list of five ''[[Dubia (Catholicism)|dubia]]'' to Pope Francis related to the upcoming [[Sixteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops|Synod on Synodality]]. The ''Dubia'' questioned the necessity of the upcoming synod, asked whether the blessing of same-sex unions was theologically admissible, and questioned the Pope's claim that "forgiveness is a human right".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-02 |title=Cardinals Send 'Dubia' to Pope Francis Ahead of Synod on Synodality |url=https://www.ncregister.com/news/cardinals-send-dubia-to-pope-ahead-of-synod-on-synodality |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=NCR |language=en}}</ref>

Zen criticized some of Pope Francis' responses to the five dubia, saying that the Pope's guidance on the blessing of same-sex unions is "pastorally untenable."<ref>[https://www.ncregister.com/news/cardinal-zen-calls-pope-francis-dubia-response-on-same-sex-blessings-pastorally-untenable Cardinal Zen Calls Pope Francis' 'Dubia' Response on Same-Sex Blessings 'Pastorally Untenable']</ref>

==Relations with the People's Republic of China==
In October 2011, Zen said that he had received HK$20&nbsp;million from Hong Kong tycoon [[Jimmy Lai]] since 2005, which went to helping the underground Church and the poor on the mainland.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gheddo |first=Piero |url=http://www.asianews.it/news-en/I-received-millions-and-spent-them-for-the-Church-and-the-poor,-Card-Zen-says-22966.html |title=I received millions and spent them for the Church and the poor, Card Zen says |publisher=Asianews.it |date=20 October 2011 }}</ref>

In 2014 Cardinal Zen Ze-kiun asked [[Pope Francis]] not to visit China, saying the pontiff would be “manipulated”. In an interview he told the Italian newspaper ''[[Corriere della Sera]]'': “I would tell him now, ‘Don’t come, you would be manipulated'. The few courageous [Catholics] could not meet [the Pope], and the Communist Party would show him the illegitimate bishops, including the three excommunicated ones.” The comments came as ties between the Vatican and China improved in the early days of the pontificate of Francis, with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs congratulating Francis on his election.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china-insider/article/1545687/cardinal-zen-asks-pope-francis-not-visit-china|title=Hong Kong's Cardinal Joseph Zen asks Pope Francis not to visit China|date=3 July 2014|website=South China Morning Post|language=en|access-date=13 February 2018}}</ref> Cardinal Zen said he did not see signs of dialogue happening between the Catholic Church and China. “Even if under these conditions Beijing was to extend a hand, it would be a trick under these circumstances,” he said. “Our poor bishops are slaves, the Communist Party denies them respect, tries to take away their dignity.”<ref name="autogenerated1"/>

In September 2014 as part of the [[2014 Hong Kong protests]], Cardinal Zen addressed the protesters saying "It's high time we really showed that we want to be free and not to be slaves. We must unite together". During his speech protesters were fired on with tear gas and he asked them to disperse.<ref name="Cardinal Zen addresses pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong" >{{cite web |url= http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/1220/0/cardinal-zen-addresses-pro-democracy-activists-in-hong-kong |title= Cardinal Zen addresses pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong |work= The Tablet |access-date= 1 October 2014 |archive-date= 6 October 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141006082511/http://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/1220/0/cardinal-zen-addresses-pro-democracy-activists-in-hong-kong |url-status= dead }}</ref>

In a 2018 interview, Cardinal Zen, on [[China-Holy See relations|Sino-Holy See relations]], said “Pope Francis does not know the real Communist Party in China, but [[Pietro Parolin|Parolin]] should know. He was there [in the Secretariat of State] so many years, so he must know. He may be happy to encourage the pope to be optimistic about the negotiations … but that’s dangerous. Pope Francis needs someone to calm him down from his enthusiasm.” Zen added that  “It seems the Secretary of State wants to have a solution anyway. He is so optimistic. That’s dangerous. I told the pope that he [Parolin] has a poisoned mind. He is very sweet, but I have no trust in this person. He believes in diplomacy, not in our faith.”<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://cruxnow.com/global-church/2017/10/16/cardinal-says-popes-top-diplomat-poisoned-mind-china/|title=Cardinal says pope's top diplomat has 'poisoned mind' on China|date=16 October 2017|work=Crux|access-date=13 February 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=31 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831193537/https://cruxnow.com/global-church/2017/10/16/cardinal-says-popes-top-diplomat-poisoned-mind-china/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://cruxnow.com/global-church/2018/01/29/cardinal-zen-attacks-vatican-efforts-rehabilitate-government-appointed-chinese-bishops/Cardinal|title=cardinal|work=Crux|access-date=13 February 2018|language=en-US}}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In 2019, Zen responded to Cardinal Filoni's weeklong trip to Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau. Cardinal Filoni said that the provisional agreement between Beijing and the Holy See signed in 2018 “will be a very good thing for the Church in the future, and also for China.” Zen suggested that “One wonders: from which planet did our leaders in Rome descend?” Zen, the emeritus bishop of Hong Kong, responded on his blog on 5 March. Zen added that “The incredible thing is the invitation to trust the government! Is information on recent oppression measures missing from our superiors in the Vatican?”<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://catholicherald.co.uk/news/2019/03/09/cardinal-zen-one-wonders-from-which-planet-did-our-leaders-in-rome-descend/ |title = Cardinal Zen: 'One wonders from which planet did our leaders in Rome descend?'| work=Catholic Herald |date = 9 March 2019}}</ref> Zen later expressed a desire to tell Pope Francis that the pontiff's actions were "encouraging a schism" by "legitimizing the schismatic church in China."<ref>{{cite web|last=Haggerty|first=Nicholas|title=Interview: Cardinal Joseph Zen|url=https://newbloommag.net/2019/12/03/cardinal-zen-interview/|work=New Bloom|date=3 December 2019}}</ref>

During the [[2019–2020 Hong Kong protests]], Zen criticized Pope Francis after he was quoted as saying that he loved China and would like to visit and condemned his lack of stance against China.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hong Kong's Catholics defy Vatican over protests |url=https://www.ft.com/content/360bc752-f6ea-11e9-a79c-bc9acae3b654 |access-date=5 October 2021 |work=[[Financial Times]] |date=5 December 2019|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

On May 11, 2022, Hong Kong police arrested Zen and four others who helped run the disbanded 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund for protesters, all on the charge of "collusion with foreign forces". The others who were arrested were senior barrister [[Margaret Ng]], activist and pop singer [[Denise Ho]], former lawmaker [[Cyd Ho]], and former academic Hui Po-keung. Zen was held and questioned in [[Chai Wan]] police station close to his church residence.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pomfret |first1=James |last2=Pang |first2=Jessie |title=Hong Kong police arrest Catholic cardinal on national security charge |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/hong-kong-police-arrest-catholic-cardinal-alleged-collusion-with-foreign-forces-2022-05-11/ |access-date=May 11, 2022 |work=Reuters |date=May 11, 2022}}</ref> Zen was released on bail and had his passport confiscated after interrogation.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Ninety-year-old Cardinal Zen released on bail after being arrested on national security charges|url=https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/190072/Ninety-year-old-Cardinal-Zen-released-on-bail-after-being-arrested-on-national-security-charges%C2%A0|work=The Standard|date=12 May 2022|access-date=12 May 2022}}</ref>

After his initial arrest, the [[Holy See]] press office stated that they were concerned and following the situation closely.<ref>{{cite news|last=Brockhaus|first=Hannah|title=Vatican following news of Cardinal Zen's arrest 'with concern'|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251204/vatican-following-news-of-cardinal-zen-s-arrest-with-concern|work=Catholic News Agency|date=11 May 2022}}</ref> [[Karine Jean-Pierre]] called upon the PRC to immediately release Zen and the others arrested, and former U.S. Congressman [[Dan Lipinski]] attacked the Chinese government over the move. American bishops [[Thomas Joseph Tobin]] and [[Joseph Strickland]] both called for prayers for Zen's release.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bukuras|first=Joe|title=Cardinal Zen arrest: A roundup of reactions|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251203/cardinal-zen-arrest-a-roundup-of-reactions|work=Catholic News Agency|date=11 May 2022}}</ref> In the U.K., British minister [[James Cleverly]] called the arrests unacceptable in a statement given before [[Parliament of Great Britain|Parliament]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Nichholls|first=Henry|title=UK government says arrest of Catholic cardinal in Hong Kong is unacceptable|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/uk-government-says-arrest-catholic-cardinal-hong-kong-is-unacceptable-2022-05-12/|work=Reuters|date=12 May 2022}}</ref> Vatican's Secretary of State [[Pietro Parolin]] said the arrest of Zen should not be read as disavowal of Sino-Vatican agreement.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2022-05/cardinal-parolin-expresses-closeness-to-cardinal-zen.html|title= Parolin expresses closeness to Cardinal Zen and desire to dialogue with China|work=Vatican News|date=2022-05-13}}</ref>

On 24 April 2025, following the [[Death and funeral of Pope Francis|death of Pope Francis]], Zen was allowed to leave Hong Kong to attend his funeral on 26 April.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/cardinal-joseph-zen-hong-kong-vatican-pope-francis-be3794bc1922c54f16e35196fbe80ed6|title=Hong Kong allows outspoken Cardinal Joseph Zen to attend Pope Francis' funeral|first=Kanis|last=Leung|work=Associated Press|date=2025-04-24|access-date=24 March 2025 }}</ref>

==Views==
[[File:Joseph_Zen_Ze_Kiun.jpg|right|thumb|Cardinal Zen in his episcopal attire in 2008]]

===Advocacy for democracy===
After he succeeded as Bishop of Hong Kong on 23 September 2002, he led the Diocese in voicing reservations about the proposed anti-subversion laws, required under [[Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23|Article 23 of the Basic Law]].{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}  He was worried that these laws, if enacted without a thorough consultation process including a [[white paper]], could easily lead to future violations of basic [[civil right]]s.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}

On 1 July 2003, he took part in a prayer gathering at Victoria Park before the [[Hong Kong 1 July marches|1 July March]] began. Many Christians, including Catholics and those of other denominations, attended the demonstration.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}

Cardinal Zen attended the 4 June 2006 Prayer gathering in memory of the victims of the 1989 massacre. He asked the Chinese government to let the Chinese people freely discuss the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/news/expressnews/20060604/20060604_55_314688.html |script-title=zh:陳日君 ： 不能讓六四不了了之 |publisher=RTHK |date=4 June 2006 |language=zh |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531204359/http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/news/expressnews/20060604/20060604_55_314688.html |archive-date=31 May 2008  }}</ref> In September 2023 he also attended the trial of pro-democracy media tycoon and founder of influential tabloid [[Apple Daily]] [[Jimmy Lai]].<ref>{{cite tweet |user=frances_hui |number=1736652056813777043 |title=The 91-year-old Cardinal Zen attended #JimmyLai's trial today. What a symbol of true strength and fearlessness in the face of oppression. #FreeJimmyLai |last=Hui |first=Frances}}</ref>

===Education reform controversies===
{{Main|School-Based Management Policy}}
On 5 June 2005, Zen announced that if the Legislative Council passed a proposal to support the schools to create incorporated management committees on 8 July 2005, he would appeal against the decision to the court.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} The Education (Amendment) Bill 2002, once enacted, would likely play down the role of the Church in running Catholic schools and in promoting Catholic education.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} However, after the Government gave up some argued points in the motion, the Diocese decided to support the motion, though the Diocese later announced plans to prosecute the Government on 28 September 2005.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}

After two teachers committed suicide in early January 2006, Zen said that these acts must be due to the educational reforms and he asked the government to halt new reforms. Then Permanent Secretary for Education and Manpower [[Fanny Law]] rejected causal connections, but provoked furor among teachers and the public when she questioned why only two teachers committed suicide because of the reforms.<ref name="pressure">{{Cite news
 |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=9531&sid=6181378&con_type=1&d_str=20060110&sear_year=2006 
 |title=Work pressure pushing teachers over the edge 
 |author=Winnie Chong 
 |work=The Standard 
 |date=10 January 2006 |access-date=31 July 2008 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522114908/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=9531&sid=6181378&con_type=1&d_str=20060110&sear_year=2006 
 |archive-date=22 May 2011  
}}</ref> She apologised for her "inappropriate" remarks on 10 January.<ref name="sorry">{{Cite news
 |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=30567&sid=10610672&con_type=1&d_str=20061030&sear_year=2006 
 |title=Education chief sorry over suicide remarks 
 |author=Winnie Chong 
 |work=The Standard 
 |date=11 January 2006 |access-date=31 July 2008 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522114843/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=30567&sid=10610672&con_type=1&d_str=20061030&sear_year=2006 
 |archive-date=22 May 2011  
}}</ref>

===Tridentine Mass===
In 2021, Zen criticized Pope Francis's [[motu proprio]] ''[[Traditionis custodes]]'', stating that "Many tendentious generalizations in the documents [of the motu proprio] have hurt the hearts of many good people more than expected." He added that he believed that many people who had been hurt by the restrictions "have never given the smallest reason to be suspected of not accepting the [[Mass of Paul VI|liturgical reform of the [Second Vatican Council]]]."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Brockhaus|first=Hannah|date=21 July 2021|title=Cardinal Zen reacts to restrictions on Traditional Latin Masses|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248447/traditionis-custodes-cardinal-zen-reacts-to-restrictions-on-traditional-latin-masses|access-date=2021-07-23|work=[[Catholic News Agency]]|language=en}}</ref>

===WTO affairs===
On 18 December 2005, Zen visited protesters at the [[World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference of 2005|2005 WTO Ministerial Conference]] and tried to visit the detained South Korean Catholics, including two priests and a nun.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} He criticised the Hong Kong police for their treatment of the protesters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.ohmynews.com/ArticleView/article_view.asp?no=264911&rel_no=1 |title=... And They Call It Democracy |publisher=ohmynews.com |date=21 December 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624222412/http://english.ohmynews.com/ArticleView/article_view.asp?no=264911&rel_no=1 |archive-date=24 June 2008  }}</ref> About one month later, several unions in [[Hong Kong Police Force]] decided to write a letter to the Pope to complain about Zen's speech.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} Zen replied that some policemen were "sycophantic to the senior officers inside the police force".{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}

== Bibliography ==

* ''Way of the Cross with Pope Benedict XVI'' (2009)
* ''L'agnello e il dragone: Dialoghi su Cina e Cristianesimo (2016)''<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chorabooks.com/shop/lagnello-e-il-dragone-dialoghi-su-cina-e-cristianesimo-di-cardinal-joseph-zen-e-aurelio-porfiri/|title=L'AGNELLO E IL DRAGONE. Dialoghi su Cina e Cristianesimo di Cardinal Joseph Zen e Aurelio Porfiri|date=16 March 2016|work=Chorabooks|access-date=17 November 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> ''- "The lamb and the dragon: Dialogues on China and Christianity"''
* 為了熙雍，我決不緘默 (2018) - "For Zion, I will not remain silent"<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://oldyosef.hkdavc.com/?p=1096|title=為了熙雍，我決不緘默|date=5 November 2018|work=平安抵岸全靠祂|access-date=17 November 2018|language=zh-TW}}</ref>
*''For Love of My People I Will Not Remain Silent: On the Situation of the Church in China'' (2019). San Francisco: [[Ignatius Press]]. {{ISBN|978-1621643142|}}
* ''Cardinal Zen's Lenten Reflections'' (2024). Bedford, NH: Sophia Institute Press. {{ISBN|979-8889110767}}

==See also==
* [[Roman Catholicism in Hong Kong]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{external links|date=October 2018}}
{{Commons}}
{{wikiquote}}
* {{cite web| access-date = 22 November 2017| title= Zen Ze-kiun Card. Joseph, S.D.B. |publisher= [[Holy See Press Office]] | url= https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_zen-se-kiun_j.html | url-status=live | archive-date= 4 September 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170904070534/http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_zen-se-kiun_j.html }}
* [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123011662076532597 Cheng, Jonathan. "Hong Kong Cardinal's Departure Could Boost Beijing-Vatican Ties," Wall Street Journal. 24 December 2008.]
*[http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/hong0.htm GCatholic.org on the Bishops of Hong Kong]
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060830154709/http://catholic-pages.com/hierarchy/cardinals_bio.asp?ref=243 Catholic Pages]}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050830003422/http://archives.catholic.org.hk/administrators/zen.htm His Biography by the Catholic Church]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051027121044/http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=1774 Bishop Zen supports referendum for full democracy]
*[http://life.atnext.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=section.article_page&main_section_id=93426&article_id=96806&AV=F&HOT=T&section_id=95932&display_id=95932 Press Interview with Joseph Zen]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*[http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/08/03/talkasia.zen.script/index.html Bishop Joseph Zen Talkasia Transcript]
*[http://english.ohmynews.com/ArticleView/article_view.asp?menu=A11100&no=281323&rel_no=1&back_url= 'Conscience of HK' Ordained Cardinal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624222337/http://english.ohmynews.com/ArticleView/article_view.asp?menu=A11100&no=281323&rel_no=1&back_url= |date=24 June 2008 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110716081052/http://asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=5111 Police send letter to Pope complaining about Bishop Zen who makes light of it]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070704054348/http://www.saltandlighttv.org/prog_slprog_witness_popup_cardinal_zen.html Salt and Light interview with Cardinal Zen]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080322135737/http://www.zenit.org/article-22124?l=english Zenit News Agency about Cardinal Zen's meditations for the Papal Way of the Cross]
*[https://www.facebook.com/cardzen Joseph Zen's Facebook Page (Chinese)]
*[http://oldyosef.hkdavc.com/ Joseph Zen's Blog (Chinese)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330120701/http://oldyosef.hkdavc.com/ |date=30 March 2021 }}

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{{S-vac|last=[[Lorenzo Bianchi]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Coadjutor Bishop]] of Hong Kong|years=1996–2002}}
{{S-vac|next=[[John Tong Hon]]}}
{{S-bef|before=[[John Baptist Wu]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[List of Roman Catholic bishops of Hong Kong|Bishop of Hong Kong]]|years=2002–2009}}
{{S-aft|after=[[John Tong Hon]]}}
{{S-bef|before=[[James Aloysius Hickey]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=Cardinal-Priest of [[Santa Maria Madre del Redentore a Tor Bella Monaca]]|years=2006–present}}
{{S-inc}}
{{S-end}}
{{Cardinals of the Catholic Church}}
{{Chinese cardinals}}
{{Ordinaries of the Diocese of Hong Kong|state=collapsed}}
{{Portal bar|Hong Kong|Biography|Politics}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zen, Joseph}}
[[Category:20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Hong Kong]]
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[[Category:Refugees of the Chinese Civil War]]
[[Category:Salesian Pontifical University alumni]]