Chinese cardinal hopes Olympics encourage progress on human rights

Published: 2008-05-15

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun of Hong Kong said he hopes the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing will be a success and will help encourage progress on human rights in China. "I think the Olympics are important and represent a value that cannot be compromised by other things. For this reason, (Pope Benedict XVI) has also expressed his hope that they will be successful," Cardinal Zen told Vatican Radio in mid-May. The cardinal said the gathering of athletes from all over the world in harmonious competition was something worth protecting. "Naturally, one should take advantage of this occasion to encourage the Beijing government to make progress on human rights, too -- starting with the granting of greater freedom to those involved in communication -- as it promised when it asked to host the Olympics," he said. China's recent crackdown in Tibet has led some human rights activists to suggest a possible boycott of the Olympics. Cardinal Zen spoke to Vatican Radio during a visit to northern Italy, and he led a prayer service in Milan for the church in China.

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