Praying for China from Italy
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
by Dr. Chiaretto Yan
To mark the Day of Prayer for the Church in China (May 24, feast of Our Lady of Sheshan), Pope Leo delivered a televised message: “We unite our prayers with Chinese Catholics, as a sign of our affection for them, and of their communion with the universal Church and the Successor of Peter.” A beautiful expression of reciprocal love and communion.
Over the weekend, 320 Chinese Catholics gathered at Sacred Heart Parish in Padua, Italy, for the 17th annual rotating gathering of Chinese Catholics in 11 cities of Italy: Naples, Rome, Prato, Empoli, Rimini, Reggio Emilia, Turin, Milan, and Treviso—this year hosted by Padua, drawing a record crowd.
Events included the rosary, a vigil Mass by Bishop Riccardo Battocchio, and an evening of song, dance, and children’s choir. The next day, Pentecost Sunday, began with a procession to the Basilica of St. Anthony, a saint beloved in China.
In his homily, Bishop Claudio Cipolla of Padua invoked the image of bamboo: bending but not breaking, resilient in adversity. After Mass, all recited the prayer to Our Lady of Sheshan.
Fr. Feng Bo, organizer and chaplain, noted that everything went harmoniously, from the simple sharing of meals to the careful planning and fundraising that covered all costs—a tangible sign of God’s blessing.
I attended this event as a side participant, invited from Shanghai to speak about my recent book, My Chinese Dream.
Chiaretto Yan is a lay Catholic theologian and a seminary professor in China. His upcoming book, My Chinese Dream: Dialogues and Encounters with Christianity, is now available.
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