ICC Note: Hong Kong’s Bishop Emeritus, Cardinal Joseph Zen, wants to dedicate the human rights award he receives from the Stephanus Foundation to all Christians persecuted in China, and will use the award to help persecuted Chinese Christians.

04/07/2018 Hong Kong (Asia News) – Hong Kong’s Bishop Emeritus, Card Joseph Zen, has received a human rights award from the Stephanus Foundation.

For the cardinal, this prize does not belong to him but to all Christians persecuted in China. “I hope many in the world will pay attention to human rights and religious freedom, which unfortunately are absent in China”, the cardinal told the Apple Daily two days before he left to pick up the award.

Past recipients include Chaldean Patriarch Mar Louis Sako, Syriac Orthodox Sister Hatune Dogan, and Brother Andrew, nicknamed ‘God’s smuggler’ for his exploits smuggling Bibles into the countries behind the Iron Curtain.

The prelate noted that those who received the award before him suffered persecution, but “did I? I suffered nothing.”

Speaking about a recent meeting with the pope, he noted that the pontiff reminded him that “the crimson colour of the cardinal’s choir dress means that one must be ready for martyrdom. I told him it was a pity for I have no opportunity of becoming a martyr. My crimson colour is for the blood of the others who are persecuted.”

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