TherelationshipofChinawiththegreatestsecularworldpower--theUnitedStatesofAmerica--andthemostuniversalglobalspiritualpower--theCatholicChurch--isinastateofflux.PresidentTrumpandPopeFrancisaremajorprotagonistsinthisdramaticperiod.AlthoughwhatishappeninginChinahasanimpactworldwide,itishardforthenon-specialisttograspwhatisunderwayanditssignificanceforthefuture.TherearetwoCatholiccommunitiesinChina:theunderground,orunofficial,Churchandtheofficial,government-controlledPatrioticChurch.CardinalJosephZenisoneofthemostknowledgeableandcrediblewitnessestowhatishappeninginChina,especiallyontherelationshipbetweenthesetwocommunities.HeisacourageousdefenderoftheundergroundChurchyethasintimateknowledgeoftheofficialChurch,inpartbecauseheataughtinseveralofitsseminaries.Ithasbeenrecognized--andPopeFrancishimselfhasconfirmed--thatthehistoric2007letterofPopeBenedictXVItoCatholicsinChinaremainsthemagnacartaoftheChurchinthatcountry.Onthetenthanniversaryofthisletter,CardinalZengaveaseriesofeightlecturesonitsorigin,draftingprocess,andfinalcontent,andtheseenlighteningtalksarepresentedinthisbook.Intheselectures,CardinalZenexplainsindetailwhatheconsidersisnowthreateningthefundamentalprinciplesoftheletter--andtherefore’hispeople’.Asthetitleindicates,fortheloveofhispeople,hewillnotremainsilent.
