Cardinal Zen’s public celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass was courageous on two fronts, given the ongoing suppression of the Traditional Latin Mass (using “Traditionis Custodes” as a pretext) in many dioceses worldwide, and with the long arm of CCP authorities stretching to once British-ruled Hong Kong all the way from Beijing, punishing dissenters like outspoken Catholic and anti-Communist advocate Jimmy Lai and even murdering others over the decades.
On Corpus Christi Sunday this year (June 22), Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-Kiun celebrated the Traditional Latin Mass and led a Eucharistic procession at a parish church in Hong Kong, as per a post on his X account that read (in both English and Cantonese):
“We celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, a feast the Church established precisely so that the faithful might allow God to enter more deeply into their daily lives through the Holy Eucharist. After celebrating the Tridentine Mass (Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite) at Mary Help of Christians Parish in Hong Kong, I led a Eucharistic procession, bringing the Holy Eucharist out of the church and through the streets of the campus.”
Adding, Cardinal Zen penned the following touching testimony about Our Lord Jesus Christ after the Eucharistic procession providing a public witness to the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in communist-controlled Hong Kong:
“Jesus is truly Emmanuel—God with us. He so desires to be with us that He left us this marvelous Sacrament, offering Himself under the appearance of bread and wine for us to eat and drink. The food we eat becomes part of our body, but when we receive Jesus, we become His Body. Sometimes we say, ‘Let us not leave Jesus alone in the tabernacle.’ Of course, this is a figurative way of speaking. When Jesus revealed His Sacred Heart, He said, ‘This heart has loved men so much, yet is so little loved in return.’ As though He needs our consolation. In truth, it is not Jesus who needs us—but He knows that we need Him. To forget Jesus is our greatest loss.”
In response to Cardinal Zen’s public post indicating his support for the Traditional Latin Mass, some observers interpreted this move as a bold witness of the prelate’s Catholic Faith in the midst of lingering uncertainties about Sino-Vatican ties under Pope Leo XIV.
As a cradle Catholic of Asian origins, I see the 2025 Corpus Christi procession in Hong Kong as something far more than a local parish event. Instead, the procession was a public demonstration (along with Cardinal Zen’s decision to publicly post his involvement in it on his X account) of the unwavering hope and faith of many Chinese Catholics facing the brunt of the CCP’s persecution of religion and basic civil freedoms in Hong Kong.
For example, Cardinal Zen’s long-time friend Mark Simon said:
“He’s talking to his own people, letting them know he’s still there. And he is, of course, in favor of the Latin Mass. He’s saying it (i.e. the Traditional Latin Mass) and by saying it, he’s letting Leo know where he stands,” Simon elaborated.
Simon also told the National Catholic Register (NCR) that by releasing the aforementioned social media post, Cardinal Zen wanted to send a particular message to his audience.
“Him doing this — the reason you’re calling is exactly why he’s doing this. He’s very PR-savvy,” Simon stated.
“He knows they’re not going to be happy,” Simon went on, alluding to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
However, Simon said he did not believe that Cardinal Zen the cardinal was trying to ruffle the feathers of the CCP. Rather, Simon felt the cardinal was trying to encourage fellow Chinese Catholics who are trying to remain faithful to the Holy See without kowtowing to the CCP-sanctioned Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CPCA).
Likewise, David Alton, a Catholic and a member of the British House of Lords, responded to Cardinal Zen’s post with a post of his own:
“Hong Kong’s Cardinal Joseph Zen is the outstanding religious leader of our times -refusing to abandon his people and refusing to comply with the demands of the Chinese Communist Party. He gives inspiration to all those persecuted for their beliefs.”
Indeed, to many Catholics both in China and the world who treasure the sacredness, reverence, and theological value of the Traditional Latin Mass, Cardinal Zen’s fortitude in defending orthodox Catholic doctrine, traditional Catholic liturgy, and standing up to anti-Christian persecutors (like the CCP), is an inspiration.
With the long arm of CCP authorities stretching to once British-ruled Hong Kong all the way from Beijing, punishing dissenters like outspoken Catholic and anti-Communist advocate Jimmy Lai and even murdering others over the decades, Cardinal Zen’s recent public post declaring his celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass highlights the long standing appeal of the pre-Vatican II Tridentine liturgy in the wake of anti-Christian oppression (both from Beijing and the “woke” West).
God willing, may our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV do God’s will in addressing the situation of the Church in China, with the prayers of faithful shepherds like Cardinal Joseph Zen.
Arguably, Cardinal Zen’s decision to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass was noteworthy, given the ongoing suppression of the Traditional Latin Mass (using “Traditionis Custodes” as a pretext) in many dioceses worldwide.
Previously in 2021, the prelate stated that “[the Latin Mass] is something very precious and very beneficial for the piety and nourishment of faith”.
At that time, Cardinal Zen added that he suspects the motivations behind “Traditionis Custodes” “may not have originated with Pope Francis” but with “the people around him, especially [in] the Secretariat of State.”
As a cradle Catholic of Asian origins, I see the 2025 Corpus Christi procession in Hong Kong as something far more than a local parish event. Instead, the procession was a public demonstration (along with Cardinal Zen’s decision to publicly post his involvement in it on his X account) of the unwavering hope and faith of many Chinese Catholics facing the brunt of the CCP’s persecution of religion and basic civil freedoms in Hong Kong.
Our Lord Jesus Christ’s sacramental presence (that the Corpus Christi feast reminds us of) is a source of great comfort and strength for many persecuted Catholics in Asia who wish to adhere to the traditional teachings of Holy Mother Church.
God willing, may our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV do God’s will in addressing the situation of the Church in China, with the prayers of faithful shepherds like Cardinal Joseph Zen.
Mary, Mater Ecclesiae, ora pro nobis.
