On Wednesday May 8, 2024, at 4:00 p.m., Friar Gianni M. (Bao Guo) HUANG, a member of the General Custody of the Sacred Convent of St. Francis of Assisi in Italy, defended his doctoral dissertation entitled: “Catholicism in China: History and Current Affairs. Legal and Theological Issues.” His dissertation defense was conducted in the Sixtus V Hall at the Pontifical Theological Faculty of St. Bonaventure (Seraphicum) in Rome.
The presentation and oral discussion of the written dissertation was deemed excellent and evaluated with full marks by the Examining Committee. The Committee members were: Friar Raffaele DI MURO, Dean of the Faculty; Friar Zdzisław KIJAS, First Examiner; Friar Francesco CELESTINO, Second Examiner; and Sister Daniela DEL GAUDIO, Co-Examiner.
The title reflects the extensive content of the dissertation, which was developed over four chapters: 1) The History of Evangelization in China up to the Foundation of the New China in 1949; 2) The Catholic Church in China from the Foundation of the New China up to Its Political Reform and the Opening-up of Its Economy, 1949-1980; 3) The Status of the Catholic Church in China During China’s political reform and the Opening-up of Its Economy 1980-2013; 4) The Church in China During the Pontificate of Pope Francis – The Provisional Agreement on the Appointment of Chinese Bishops: Practices and Prospects.
Friar Gianni stated objective was “to comprehensively analyze and study the existing problems in the Church in China and, at the same time, point out the related theological issues; also, to propose ways and strategies that are able to really solve the problems in order to draw lessons for the future so that the Church succeeds in developing in a broad and positive way.”
Also present in the hall were: His Eminence, Cardinal Lazarus You HEUNG-SIK, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy; some members of the Propaganda Fide (where Friar Gianni worked for several years); members of the Vatican Secretariat of State, some friars from the Sacred Convent – including its Custos, Friar Marco MORONI, friars from the General Curia, Seraphicum and Vatican Penitentiary, many consecrated persons, and various relatives and friends of Friar Gianni, many of whom came directly from distant China.
May our confrere continue his research in order to help the Chinese Catholic Church to better develop itself in this very vast and complex reality.
Friar Sylvester BEJAN
