Summary
Cardinal Joseph Zen, emeritus bishop of Hong Kong, expressed his gratitude to Pope Leo XIV for reinstating the regular practice of consistory meetings and praised the pontiff as someone who “knows how to listen.” The cardinal participated in the first extraordinary consistory held by Pope Leo XIV in June, following a brief ordinary one in 2014. Zen’s presence at the meeting was significant, as he made an official trip from Hong Kong to Rome specifically for this purpose. During his time in Rome, Zen celebrated Mass and met privately with Pope Leo XIV, who received him cordially, listening attentively during their half-hour conversation. The cardinal highlighted a lack of participation from other cardinals during the consistory session, describing himself as the only speaker. He commended the decision to hold consistories annually but noted that he felt some traditional cardinals gave him “dirty looks” after his remarks on the Synodality synod. Zen’s speech at the meeting addressed issues such as church procedures and governance, reflecting a positive outlook for potential improvements.
Key Topics
Vatican City, Pope Leo XIV, Consistory
