Radio Free Asia (RFA) recently reported that, according to the Italian newspapers Il Tempo and La Verite, Pope Francis’ speech on July 5 removed the content related to the Hong Kong situation from the original draft that was released. The Vatican Press Room did not explain why. The original draft included a call for social freedom, the protection of religious freedom, and sincere dialogues. The removal appeared to be an emergency decision since the Vatican distributed the original content to reporters at 11 am on the same day the Pope gave the speech. The removed contents also said the Pope will continue to pray for the Hong Kong Catholic Church and the kind people in Hong Kong. On his blog, retired Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, S.D.B questioned exactly how Chinese President Xi censored the Pope’s freedom of speech.
Source: RFA, July 7, 2020
https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/va-pope-07072020124527.html?encoding=simplified