John Tong Hon
Encyclopedia
John Tong Hon is a bishop
of the Catholic Church. In his youth, he spent ten years living in Huadu, Guangzhou
before returning to Hong Kong. He earned a master's degree in philosophy from the Chinese University of Hong Kong
before going on to doctoral studies at the Pontifical Urbaniana University
. He was ordained a priest on 9 December 1966. On 13 September 1996, he was appointed auxiliary bishop
of Hong Kong. He was named to the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
in 2003, after 24 years of service with their Holy Spirit Study Center in Hong Kong. In March 2005, he traveled to Guangzhou
on official business as a representative of the pope, along with other Hong Kong religious leaders; they were received at a banquet luncheon by Zhu Zhenzhong, chairman of the city's political consultative committee.
On 30 January 2008, Pope Benedict XVI
raised him to coadjutor bishop
from his former position as the auxiliary bishop of the Hong Kong Diocese. He had been named by the Church as being in line for Zen's job as early as 2006; however, he stated he felt little excitement at the prospect of taking up the post. He assumed the post of Bishop of Hong Kong on 15 April, 2009 with the retirement of Joseph Cardinal Zen
.
There is a chance that when Cardinal Zen turns 80 and loses the right to participate in a papal conclave, the bishop will be named a cardinal like his predecessor. Hong Kong is an important diocese, and although Cardinal Zen was likely named at least in part because of his reputation (Hong Kong is not a metropolitan archdiocese, and so his elevation- like other ordinary bishops and priests- was not routine), the Popes have wanted to appoint more Chinese cardinals and bishops for some time.
In 2010 as part of his Christmas message, Bishop Tong Hon, called on the Chinese government to free Liu Xiaobo
, activist Zhao Lianhai and all those who are in jail for promoting human rights. He also urged Beijing to release all the clergymen from the underground Church
who are behind bars for demanding greater religious freedom in China. In his message, he expressed four dreams or aspirations he has for the future of his diocese, namely evangelisation, vocations, the Universal Church and acting as a bridge with mainland.
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
of the Catholic Church. In his youth, he spent ten years living in Huadu, Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
before returning to Hong Kong. He earned a master's degree in philosophy from the Chinese University of Hong Kong
Chinese University of Hong Kong
The Chinese University of Hong Kong is a research-led university in Hong Kong.CUHK is the only tertiary education institution in Hong Kong with Nobel Prize winners on its faculty, including Chen Ning Yang, James Mirrlees, Robert Alexander Mundell and Charles K. Kao...
before going on to doctoral studies at the Pontifical Urbaniana University
Pontifical Urbaniana University
The Pontifical Urbaniana University or Pontifical Urban University is a pontifical university under the authority of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.-History:...
. He was ordained a priest on 9 December 1966. On 13 September 1996, he was appointed auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Hong Kong. He was named to the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Rome is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for missionary work and related activities...
in 2003, after 24 years of service with their Holy Spirit Study Center in Hong Kong. In March 2005, he traveled to Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
on official business as a representative of the pope, along with other Hong Kong religious leaders; they were received at a banquet luncheon by Zhu Zhenzhong, chairman of the city's political consultative committee.
On 30 January 2008, Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
raised him to coadjutor bishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
from his former position as the auxiliary bishop of the Hong Kong Diocese. He had been named by the Church as being in line for Zen's job as early as 2006; however, he stated he felt little excitement at the prospect of taking up the post. He assumed the post of Bishop of Hong Kong on 15 April, 2009 with the retirement of Joseph Cardinal Zen
Joseph Cardinal Zen
Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, S.D.B. is a Chinese Cardinal of the Catholic Church, who served as the sixth Bishop of Hong Kong. He was elevated to the cardinalate in 2006, and is famous for his outspoken disposition on issues regarding human rights, political freedom, and religious liberty, often attracting...
.
There is a chance that when Cardinal Zen turns 80 and loses the right to participate in a papal conclave, the bishop will be named a cardinal like his predecessor. Hong Kong is an important diocese, and although Cardinal Zen was likely named at least in part because of his reputation (Hong Kong is not a metropolitan archdiocese, and so his elevation- like other ordinary bishops and priests- was not routine), the Popes have wanted to appoint more Chinese cardinals and bishops for some time.
In 2010 as part of his Christmas message, Bishop Tong Hon, called on the Chinese government to free Liu Xiaobo
Liu Xiaobo
Liu Xiaobo is a Chinese literary critic, writer, professor, and human rights activist who called for political reforms and the end of communist single-party rule in China...
, activist Zhao Lianhai and all those who are in jail for promoting human rights. He also urged Beijing to release all the clergymen from the underground Church
Roman Catholicism in China
Roman Catholicism in China has a long and complicated history...
who are behind bars for demanding greater religious freedom in China. In his message, he expressed four dreams or aspirations he has for the future of his diocese, namely evangelisation, vocations, the Universal Church and acting as a bridge with mainland.
See also
- Catholic Diocese of Hong KongCatholic Diocese of Hong KongThe Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong is a Latin Rite ordinary diocese of the Catholic Church headed by Bishop John Tong Hon. Though the bishop is subject to the Roman Pontiff, he is not the vicar of the latter: he governs it in his own name. The diocese takes its name from the see city, the community...
- Roman Catholicism in Hong KongRoman Catholicism in Hong KongThe Catholic Church in Hong Kong , established in 1841, is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and Curia in Rome. All Catholics in Hong Kong are under the Diocese of Hong Kong - officially under the Ecclesiastical Province of Guangzhou...