Zen and the art of Vatican diplomacy
Most underreported story of the week? Pope Benedict's naming of 15 new cardinals. It's not the fact that 12 of the 15 are under 80 and therefore eligible to vote for the next pope that was newsworthy; it was his choice of Bishop Joseph Zen of Hong Kong that deserved headlines. Adherents of conventional diplomatic wisdom would have regarded the promotion as impossible because Zen's outspoken opinions on Tiananmen Square, Hong Kong, democracy, human rights and religious freedom have angered the communist Chinese authorities. You see, conventional diplomatic wisdom says that the Vatican's desire for better relations with Beijing is so strong that nothing will be allowed to derail the train. So much for that theory.
To its credit, the Daily Telegraph recognized the importance of the Zen elevation. In "A papal shot across Beijing's bows", the leader writer noted:
The choice will hardly please Beijing but the Pope has rightly decided that the Church's mission should not be sacrificed to a dialogue whose successful conclusion is far from sure, particularly as far as a Vatican say in the appointment of Chinese bishops is concerned. Hong Kong can take renewed pride in its courageous pastor. And Benedict's stature has been enhanced.
He's doing it his way.
