Retired Hong Kong Bishop Joseph Zen, a vocal critic of the Vatican’s dealings with Beijing, has been permitted to travel to Rome to attend Pope Francis’ first Extraordinary Consistory of Cardinals [[1]]. The 94-year-old’s presence at the meeting comes amidst ongoing scrutiny of his 2022 arrest in Hong Kong under national security laws – for which he still awaits formal charges – and follows confirmation that he recently met privately with the Pope [[3]]. This trip marks Zen’s third journey to the Vatican as the implementation of passport restrictions, raising questions about the evolving dynamic between the cardinal, the Vatican, and mainland China [[2]].
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Cardinal Joseph Zen, the 94-year-old retired Bishop of Hong Kong, has been granted permission to travel to Rome, according to reports. The trip comes as Zen is scheduled to attend an Extraordinary Consistory of Cardinals convened by Pope Francis, his first since ascending to the papacy last year. The Vatican has also confirmed that Pope Francis held a private meeting with Cardinal Zen prior to the start of the consistory.
Previous Trips to the Vatican Allowed in Recent Years
Zen, along with four others – Margaret Ng, Daisy Chan, Avery Ng, and Denise Ho – and fund secretary Eric So, were arrested by Hong Kong national security police in 2022 on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces, a crime under the city’s national security law. Authorities requested the six individuals surrender their passports under the implementation rules of the law, and those passports have remained confiscated despite no formal charges being filed. Zen was previously allowed to leave Hong Kong in January 2023 and April 2025 to attend the funerals of retired Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II, respectively.
Zen Previously Sought Meeting with Pope Francis
Zen has repeatedly sought a meeting with Pope Francis in the past, including through personal letters and published articles, urging the pontiff to take a stronger stance against Beijing and reconsider the Vatican’s provisional agreement with China regarding the appointment of bishops. In a 2020 letter, he called for the appointment of a “faithful pastor” as the Bishop of Hong Kong. Pope Francis ultimately met with Zen in 2023, and the Sino-Vatican agreement on bishop appointments was extended for another four years in October of that year, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Pope Francis Has Shown Interest in Hong Kong Affairs
Pope Francis has demonstrated an interest in Hong Kong affairs since taking office eight months ago. On October 15 of last year, he received Jimmy Lai’s wife, Sabrina Lai, and daughter, and shook hands with Sabrina Lai. Following a recent fire at the Marco Polo Residence in Hong Kong, Pope Francis also sent a message of condolence to the Hong Kong Diocese, expressing his deep sorrow and prayers for those affected.
Bishop Stephen Chow of Hong Kong also met with Pope Francis on September 2, 2025. After the meeting, Chow stated that “Pope Francis is willing to continue the direction of his predecessor, Pope Francis, towards China at this stage,” and that the Pope recognizes the importance of dialogue between the Church and mainland authorities, prioritizing communication in Vatican-China relations.
