35 Facts About Joseph Zen

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

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

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

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

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

Joseph Zen obtained a licentiate in theology and a doctorate in philosophy from the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome.

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

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

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

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

Nonetheless, Joseph 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.

From 22 October 2011 for three days Cardinal Joseph 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.

Joseph Zen later wrote about his experiences in an open letter.

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

Joseph 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.

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

Bishop Joseph 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.

Rev Louis Ha Ke-loon said it shows that the Pope feels that Bishop Joseph 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 Joseph Zen speaks as moral voice of the people.

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

Cardinal Joseph 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 Joseph 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.

Cardinal Joseph Zen said he did not see signs of dialogue happening between the Catholic Church and China.

Joseph Zen was there [in the Secretariat of State] so many years, so he must know.

Joseph Zen is very sweet, but I have no trust in this person.

In 2019, Joseph Zen responded to Cardinal Filoni's weeklong trip to Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau.

Joseph Zen was held and questioned in Chai Wan police station close to his church residence.

Joseph Zen was released on bail and had his passport confiscated after interrogation.

Joseph Zen was worried that these laws, if enacted without a thorough consultation process including a white paper, could easily lead to future violations of basic civil rights.

Cardinal Joseph Zen attended the 4 June 2006 Prayer gathering in memory of the victims of the 1989 massacre.

Joseph Zen asked the Chinese government to let the Chinese people freely discuss the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.

On 5 June 2005, Joseph Zen announced that if the Legislative Council passed a proposal to support the schools to create incorporated management committees on 8 July 2005, he would appeal against the decision to the court.

On 18 December 2005, Joseph Zen visited protesters at the 2005 WTO Ministerial Conference and tried to visit the detained South Korean Catholics, including two priests and a nun.

Joseph Zen criticised the Hong Kong police for their treatment of the protesters.

Joseph Zen replied that some policemen were "sycophantic to the senior officers inside the police force".