Paul Shan Kuo-hsi

"We bishops have urged the people to keep praying for the patients and for the medical staff fighting the disease and to provide all the necessary assistance. I want to express my deep appreciation for all that the doctors and nurses are doing even risking their own lives to help the patients recover. I would encourage Chinese Catholics to sustain the doctors and nurses with their prayers offering all the love and solidarity possible. I call on the whole human community to unite to overcome SARS."

"In relations with China the trouble is, if China wants an independent Church this will always be outside the universal Church and will also be an obstacle to relations with the Holy See. However we pray and we hope the future will be better."