Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meets with leaders of the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CPCA) and Bishops Conference of Catholic Church of China, in Beijing, capital of China, July 19, 2017. The CPCA celebrated its 60th anniversary at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)
BEIJING, July 19 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CPCA) celebrated its 60th anniversary at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday.
Top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng met with leaders of the CPCA and Bishops Conference of Catholic Church of China, and called on the CPCA to contribute to national unity, ethnic solidarity, social and religious harmony and world peace.
On behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council, Yu, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, extended his congratulations on the CPCA's anniversary.
"The establishment of the CPCA marked the Chinese Catholic Church officially taking the road of self-administration and running religious affairs independently. This road is in conformity with socialist society," he said.
The CPCA has upheld the banner of loving the nation and religion, and adhered to the sinicization of the religion over the past 60 years, Yu said.
He called on the CPCA to better serve believers and society, to promote the integration of the Chinese Catholic Church and Chinese culture, and to adapt the Chinese Catholic Church to the socialist society with Chinese characters.
The CPCA should unite all believers and clergy to strive for the country's "two centenary goals" and the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation together with Chinese from all ethnic groups, Yu noted.
Yu also hoped the CPCA can strengthen training for believers and clergy, and ensure that the leadership of the Chinese Catholic Church is held firmly in the hands of those who love the nation and religion.
