Cardinal John Tong Hon of Hong Kong says he hopes that a “sincere dialogue” can be established with the new Chinese Communist Party leadership once the transition takes place in the autumn.

The cardinal was speaking yesterday in Rome after taking possession of his titular church of Santa Maria Regina degli Apostoli alla Montagnola. Every new cardinal is assigned a parish church in Rome, which entitles him to elect a new pope.

The Hong Kong bishop celebrated Mass in the church for Roman parishioners as well as a group of Chinese immigrants, nuns and clerics.

“I hope there would be a dialogue because no problem can be solved except [through] dialogue, a sincere dialogue,” he said of a future relationship with the new leadership.

According to Cardinal Tong, improving relations between the Church and the Chinese government is “a win-win case” for both sides.

Asked whether the new leadership will improve the situation for Chinese Catholics, he said he would “hope and pray for that.”

Cardinal Tong also commented on recent episcopal ordinations in China not approved by the Vatican.

“It is unfortunate, very unfortunate, because we always should uphold our principles... Episcopal ordinations should be approved by the Holy Father to safeguard the unity of the Church,” he said.

He also called the participation of illicit bishops in Vatican-sanctioned rites – as in last week's episcopal ordination in Nanchong – “an offense, an irregularity” which “should not be allowed.”

During his homily, Cardinal Tong touched on four major concerns as Hong Kong bishop: evangelization, promotion of vocations in the priesthood, non-Chinese Catholics in his diocese and the situation of the Church in China.

In particular, he said the “presence of migrants challenges the responsibility of believers” and asked parishes to hold at least one Sunday Mass in English. One-third of Hong Kong’s 540,000 Catholics are not Chinese.

Regarding the situation in mainland China, Cardinal Tong acknowledged that since the reforms in the 1980s, China has been moving very fast towards economic freedom, but policies on religion remain strict.

“The situation of the Church in China seems depressing,” he said, “especially if we consider that there are some illegitimate bishops and a dozen faithful bishops and priests still in prison” and that the government “pushes towards creating an autonomous National Church... even by means of oppressive ways.”

Currently, however, it is also “open to great possibilities.”

“Such optimism is founded upon the strong courage” displayed by many Catholics in “defending their faith,” he explained.

The “vitality” of China's Church has led to its growth from 3 million in 1949 to 12 million today, Cardinal Tong said.