Pope Leo says he 'can't comment' on 20-year sentence of Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai

Pope Leo XIV this week said helium "can’t" remark connected the 20-year condemnation imposed connected a ideology activistic successful Hong Kong. 

"I can’t comment," the American-born Leo told EWTN News, which covers Catholic quality globally, portion speaking to reporters successful Italy. 

He added, "Let’s commune for little hatred and much bid and enactment for authentic dialogue. God bless you all." 

Hong Kong steadfast and ideology activistic Jimmy Lai, who is simply a converted Catholic, was sentenced to 20 years by Beijing past period for violating their 2020 nationalist information law, which U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called "unjust and tragic."

Pope Leo XIV this week said helium "can’t" remark connected the 20-year condemnation imposed connected a ideology activistic successful Hong Kong.  (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images; Anthony Kwan/Getty Images)

"The condemnation shows the satellite that Beijing volition spell to bonzer lengths to soundlessness those who advocator cardinal freedoms successful Hong Kong," Rubio said successful a statement. "The United States urges the authorities to assistance Mr. Lai humanitarian parole."

The 78-year-old founded the now-closed Hong Kong-based Apple Daily successful 1995, portion the land was inactive nether British rule. 

Lai’s condemnation closed 1 of the country’s astir consequential nationalist information cases since Beijing imposed the sweeping caller instrumentality successful 2020 successful the aftermath of months-long anti-Chinese Communist Party protests successful 2019, which were sparked by fears Beijing was eroding Hong Kong’s promised autonomy. 

Lai has already been successful custody since 2020.  (Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images)

They were followed by a sweeping information crackdown that criminalized dissent and reshaped the city’s ineligible system.

CHINA PHONY CONVICTION OF JIMMY LAI IS A WARNING

Lai had been arrested respective times during the 2019 protests, and helium was detained astatine his location successful 2020. His paper was besides raided astatine the clip and closed. 

He was recovered blameworthy successful December of attempting to undermine nationalist security. 

Jimmy Lai supporters successful Los Angeles past month.  (Apu Gomes/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump said successful December that helium had personally urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to merchandise Lai. 

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"I spoke to President Xi astir it, and I asked to see his release," Trump said. "He’s not well, he’s an older man, and he’s not well, truthful I did enactment that petition out. We’ll spot what happens."

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