NO ADDITIONAL ILLICIT BISHOP ORDINATIONS PREDICTED

C O N F I D E N T I A L HONG KONG 002949

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP AND EAP/CM
NSC FOR DENNIS WILDER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2031
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR PREL CH HK VT
SUBJECT: NO ADDITIONAL ILLICIT BISHOP ORDINATIONS PREDICTED
THIS SUMMER


Classified By: Acting E/P Chief Jeff Zaiser. Reasons: 1.4(b,d).


1. (C) Summary. On July 18, Monsignor Eugene Nugent, the
papal representative in Hong Kong, told poloff that he did
not expect any illicit Chinese bishop ordinations in the
coming weeks and predicted a quiet summer. The Pope, said
Nugent, at Cardinal Joseph Zen's suggestion and urging, hoped
to convene a high-level inter-ministerial meeting to assess
the Holy See's China policy; more details about the meeting
would likely emerge in the fall. Over the next year,
Cardinal Zen -- who takes his role as the only active Chinese
cardinal very seriously -- planned on meeting with various
Chinese Catholic communities throughout the world. And in
order to deal with a heavy workload, Nugent has asked the
Holy See to post an additional person from the Vatican
diplomatic corps to Hong Kong and has requested additional
funding to hire more local staff. End summary.

Quiet Summer
--------------


2. (C) On July 18, Monsignor Eugene Nugent, the papal
representative in Hong Kong, told poloff that he did not
expect any additional illicit Chinese bishop ordinations in
the coming weeks. The summer, predicted Nugent, would be
relatively quiet. With Vatican officials on holiday in
August, Nugent also planned on leaving Hong Kong for holiday
and would return in early September. John Tong, the
Auxiliary Bishop of the Hong Kong Catholic Diocese, would
continue to monitor the situation of the PRC Catholic
community.


3. (C) The Pope, said Nugent, at Cardinal Joseph Zen's
suggestion and urging, was considering hosting a high-level
inter-ministerial meeting to assess the Holy See's China
policy. In 2000, Pope John Paul II had invited several China
policy advisors and his top ministers for a similar meeting
to discuss the Vatican's PRC policy. With the recent
personnel changes in the Vatican, Nugent said that the final
decision on this meeting would not occur until after the
summer holiday period.

Zen to Travel More
--------------


4. (C) Cardinal Zen took his role as the only Chinese
cardinal very seriously, said Nugent. (Note: Cardinal Paul
Shan Kuo-hsi of the Taiwan Diocese is retired. End Note.)
Over the next year, Zen intended to travel more and planned
on meeting with various Chinese Catholic communities,
including those located in the U.S.

Office Expansion
--------------


5. (C) As the sole Vatican official located in Hong Kong,
Nugent's responsibilities include monitoring the Catholic
community in Hong Kong and China and identifying new bishop
candidates. It has become clear in recent years that his
office has been understaffed and needed larger quarters in
order to properly carry out the Vatican's policies, said
Nugent. While he has been able to rely on the Holy Spirit
Study Center for help with research and outreach, Nugent has
asked the Holy See to post an additional person from the
Vatican diplomatic corps to Hong Kong and has requested
additional funding to hire more local staff. In particular,
he would like to hire Hong Kong-based priests who already
have a strong background in China affairs. Nugent said that
he also planned to relocate his office to a space that could
accommodate the additional staff. Hopefully, renovations on
his new offices in Kowloon (near the old Kai Tak airport)
will be finished before next summer.
Sakaue