Fr. Z reports on Cardinal Zen’s report on the contents of Benedict’s forthcoming letter to Chinese Catholics:

Pope Benedict’s forthcoming letter to Chinese Catholics will clear up pastoral issues troubling the mainland church while spelling out the Vatican’s bottom line on diplomatic negotiations, Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun said. But although conciliatory wording would be used to show the Vatican was sincere in continuing the dialogue, Beijing’s hope for major compromises could be dashed because the church had to protect its traditional rights, he said.

In an interview on the eve of the first anniversary of his elevation to cardinal, the head of the Hong Kong Catholic Diocese said the Pope was still finalising the letter to be delivered after Easter. "Pastoral issues, rather than diplomacy, will be the focus because the letter is not addressed to the Beijing government but to the faithful in China. The Pope’s concern is not diplomacy, but the propagation of faith," Cardinal Zen said.

"Rather than creating problems, the letter will solve problems. But if Beijing believes the Holy See will make a big compromise, I am afraid they will be disappointed."