Joseph Zen

Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, SDB (, born 13 January 1932) is a retired Chinese cardinal of the Catholic Church who served as Bishop of Hong Kong from 2002 to 2009.

After entering the Salesians at the Hong Kong novitiate in 1948, he was ordained to the priesthood on 11 February 1961 by Cardinal Maurilio Fossati.

Zen obtained a licentiate in theology (1961) and a doctorate in philosophy (1964) from the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome.

After 1973, he taught in the Holy Spirit Seminary College of Hong Kong – 1976 to 1978 of Macao Salesian School (Instituto Salesiano) as principal.

In 1978 he became the Provincial Superior of Salesians (which includes mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan), then resigned in 1983.

He was a lecturer in the seminaries in China, centres of studies acknowledged by the Communist party, between 1989 and 1996.

He was appointed the coadjutor Bishop of Hong Kong in 1996 by Pope John Paul II.

On 18 September 2005, he told Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily reporters that he was willing to retire in January 2007.

He also said that he wanted to be a teacher in either mainland China or in Africa, as there was a shortage of teachers in Africa.

Democratic Party ex-chairman Martin Lee, also a Roman Catholic, stated that because Zen was still healthy for his age, the Pope may request him to stay in his position.

Legislative Council member Audrey Eu praised Zen for being braver than other religious leaders in Hong Kong in sharing his political views and also because "he carried out his ideas of fairness, equitableness, and philanthropy via actual efforts".

On the other hand, some conservatives inside the church speculated that the strained relationship between Beijing and the Holy See will become more relaxed if Zen retires.

He was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006 and has been outspoken on issues regarding human rights, political freedom, and religious liberty.

Zen's strong ties with the pro-democracy camp often attract criticism from the pro-Beijing camp and the government of the People's Republic of China.

Nonetheless, Zen wrote a letter to the Pope on 13 January 2006 and stated that he did want to retire from his position, though not because of his age.

On 22 February 2006, the Vatican announced that Zen would be elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Benedict XVI in the consistory on 24 March 2006.

Zen, who was created Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria Madre del Redentore a Tor Bella Monaca, saw his elevation as indication of how much the Pope values the Church in China.

He was named a member of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

Bishop Zen's elevation was welcomed by Catholics in Hong Kong as it was seen as a recognition of the bishop's stance on social justice and as an honour for the church in Hong Kong.

Vicar General Dominic Chan Chi-ming said that it would be an honour to have a cardinal to once again head the diocese.

Rev. Louis Ha Ke-loon said it shows that the Pope feels that Bishop Zen should speak out.

Democrat legislator Martin Lee added that it was good news because no matter whether he is a bishop or a cardinal, as a religious leader Zen speaks as moral voice of the people.

At the time of his elevation, Zen was the only Chinese cardinal eligible to participate in papal conclaves.

His elevation can be seen as giving hope to the underground Catholic Church in China.

Cardinal Zen offered a Pontifical High Mass in the Tridentine Rite in May 2006, for which he was thanked by traditionalist Catholics around the world.

Pope Benedict XVI named Cardinal Zen to write the meditations for the Stations of the Cross led by the Pope at the Roman Colisseum on Good Friday, 21 March 2008.

In August 2023,Cardinal Brandmüller, along with Cardinals Burke, Íñiguez, Sarah, and Zen, submitted another list of five dubia to Pope Francis related to the upcoming Synod on Synodality.

The Dubia questioned the necessity of the upcoming synod, asked whether the blessing of same-sex unions was theologically admissible, and questioned the Pope's claim that "forgiveness is a human right".

Cardinal Zen criticized some of Pope Francis’ responses to five dubia, saying that the Pope's guidance on the blessing of same-sex unions is “pastorally untenable.”

He retired on 15 April 2009, but remains a strong pro-democracy influence in Hong Kong.

On 11 May 2022 he was arrested by the National Security Police and later that day released on bail.

Joseph Zen was born in Shanghai to Catholic parents, Vincent Zen and Margaret Tseu.

He studied in a church school during the Second Sino-Japanese War, but was sent to an abbey after his father suffered a stroke.

Zen fled to Hong Kong from Shanghai to escape Communist rule at the end of the Chinese Civil War.

On 15 April 2009, Pope Benedict accepted Cardinal Zen's resignation and John Tong Hon became the bishop of the diocese.

From 22 October 2011 for three days Cardinal Zen went on hunger strike which was undertaken as an act of protest against losing a long-standing legal battle with the Hong Kong government over how aided schools should be run.

He later wrote about his experiences in an open letter.

In October 2011, Zen said that he had received HK$20 million from Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai since 2005, which went to helping the underground Church and the poor on the mainland.

In 2014 Cardinal Zen Ze-kiun asked Pope Francis not to visit China, saying the pontiff would be “manipulated”.

In an interview he told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera: “I would tell him now, ‘Don’t come, you would be manipulated'.