CHINA VISIT OF CARDINAL GODFRIED DANNEELS (Belgium),
Four  Belgian Bishops and
The Board members of the Ferdinand Verbiest Foundation
April 1 to April 15, 2008

Beijing (Apr. 1-4)

Meeting Bishop Li Shan at Nantang (April 1, 2008)

Exchange of pastoral experience with Chinese bishops and priests (April 2 and April 3, 2008)

Visiting the tombs of Matteo Ricci, Adam Schall von Bell and Ferdinand Verbiest (April 2, 2008)

Courtesy visit to the State Administration for Religious Affairs (April 2, 2008)

Lecture by Cardinal Godfried Danneels on “Science and ethics in dialogue” at the Institute for Study on World Religions, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (April 3, 2008)

Lecture by Cardinal Godfried Danneels on “The Beatitudes” at the National Seminary (April  4, 2008)

Shenyang (Apr. 4-5)

Bishop Pius Jin Peixian welcomes the delegation and introduces Shenyang Diocese (April 4, 2008)

Staff of the seminary introduce the Shenyang Seminary

Lecture by Cardinal G. Danneels to seminarians and religious on “The joy of St. Francis” at the Major Seminary of Shenyang (April 5, 2008)

Chaoyang / Songshuzuizi (Apr. 6)

Pinetree Mission (Songshuzuizi), head mission of the former Jehol Diocese (now West Liaoning) 1500 Catholics of this old Catholic village, formerly CICM mission, welcome the delegation.

Chengde (Apr. 7)

Visiting the Puning Shi Temple

Imperial Palace

Potala Palace

Laohugou, Tiger Valley (Apr. 8)

In this old Catholic village the CICM founder Theophile Verbist died in 1868. Catholics welcome the delegation. The bishops and CICM superior lay flowers at the statue of the CICM founder and go to the cemetery to pray at the tombs of CICM missionaries who are buried there.

Xian (Apr. 8-9)

Visiting Bishop Dang Mingyan of Xian diocese

Visiting the Sister Congregation of Xian diocese

Visiting cultural sites in Xian: Terracotta soldiers – Forest of Steles Museum

Shanghai (Apr. 11-12)

Bishop Aloysius Jin Luxian receives the delegation and invites them for dinner together with Mr. Cao Bin, Vice Director of the Religious Affairs Bureau.

Visiting the Catholic Press at Qibao and Guangqi Publication office.

Pilgrimage to Sheshan and visit to the Sheshan Seminary

Beijing (Apr. 13-14)

Attending Mass at Beitang: Bishops are introduced, then invited to give out communion, to give the final blessing, meeting with newly baptized adults and meeting with Catholics after the Eucharist.

Visiting the Old Observatory where Verbiest was director.

Visits to Temple of Heaven, Imperial Palace, Great Wall.