Pope seeks prayers that Chinese Catholics not live in fear

Published: 2008-05-16

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI called on the universal church to pray that Catholics in China never live in fear of spreading the Gospel message and remain loyal to the Holy See. In a special prayer released by the Vatican May 16, the pope asked that, despite the hardships Catholics in China face, they "continue to believe, to hope, to love." Last June, Pope Benedict established May 24, the feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians, as the world day of prayer for the church in China. Mary is venerated under that title at the Marian shrine in Sheshan, outside Shanghai, China. Titled Prayer to Our Lady of Sheshan, the prayer was released in eight different languages, including traditional and simplified Chinese.

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