The new "number two" at the Vatican's Evangelization office – who
will be ordained an archbishop by Pope Benedict next month – said on
Jan. 21 that he hopes to be "an instrument in building bridges” with
China, his native country.
Fr. Savio Hon Tai-Fai's remarks came in his presentation to the
Vatican's Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. He was
appointed as secretary of the department on Dec. 23 and arrived in the office on Jan. 21 for his first day.
The congregation's own "Fides" news agency caught a word with him
during the presentations. Fr. Hon Tai-Fai first thanked Pope Benedict
XVI for choosing him and "especially for the attention and the love he
shows towards Asia and China in particular."
He also expressed his gratitude to the head of the department,
Cardinal Ivan Dias, for his warm reception, remarking on the positive
atmosphere within the congregation.
He said he looks forward to working
with so many experts in international missions.
In fulfilling his "new and delicate role," Fr. Hon Tai-Fai said he
"would like to be an instrument in building bridges with China."
This prospect is a welcome one for the Church, which hit a wall in
relations with the Chinese government last November when officials went
forward with the ordination of a bishop without the Pope's approval.
Further blows came when the government convened a meeting of the
state-founded and run bishops' conference, in some cases forcing bishops
to attend.
Bishops who have been approved by the Vatican and others who
have not were appointed during the meeting to oversee the state-run
Catholic Patriotic Association and its government appointed bishops'
conference.
Neither is officially recognized by the Holy See, although
some affiliated bishops are in good standing with Rome.
With relations at an impasse, the Vatican made a surprise decision in
selecting Fr. Hon Tai-Fai for the position in the Congregation for the
Evangelization of Peoples.
The Hong Kong priest brings a wealth of
knowledge and experience with the Church in China and the world to Rome.
Fr. Hon Tai-Fai is a member of the religious order called the
Salesians of St. John Bosco.
After completing studies in London and
Rome, he served in various leadership capacities in the order in Asia
including as provincial superior.
He has also worked extensively as a professor of theology at the Holy
Spirit College Seminary in Hong Kong and as visiting professor in other
Chinese seminaries.
He has been a member of the International
Theological Commission since 2004 and of the Pontifical Academy of
Theology since 1999.
The priest was also responsible for the translation of the Catechism
of the Catholic Church into Chinese. The expert in theology has produced
a number of academic papers and written for L'Osservatore Romano.
Now he will be putting all of that experience to work at the
Vatican's congregation in charge of the transmission and dissemination
of the faith and the coordination missionary activities in the entire
world.
He told Fides on Jan. 21, "at the beginning of this task I am very
excited and I am also aware of the responsibility of this role which
covers such a broad field: taking care of the pastoral life of over
1,000 ecclesiastical areas.”
He hoped to bring "fresh impetus" to the congregation's work in the
world, especially in "countries of ancient traditions and cultures, such
as China and India.”
SIC: CNA/INT'L