Hong Kong bishop brought out of retirement by Pope ‘mainly over China relations’
- Apostolic administrator post mostly meant for younger promoted clerics or for handling of crises and scandals
- Vatican-Beijing relations have been rocky until recent historic agreement on bishop appointments
Pope Francis had the Vatican’s relationship with China on his mind, when the Holy See brought Hong Kong’s former bishop John Tong Hon out of retirement to serve as acting head of the city’s 394,000-strong Catholic community, according to fellow worshippers and commentators.
The Vatican’s surprise move on Monday of appointing a retired bishop as the diocese’s “apostolic administrator”, broke with past practice in Hong Kong and Asia. The post in such regions is usually meant for younger promoted clerics or the handling of crises or allegations related to church affairs.
While the move sparked speculation on whether it was politically motivated to block a bishop who was sympathetic to Occupy protesters, others have called for calm and not to look into sinister motives.
Among them was Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, Tong’s liberal predecessor, who issued a statement on Tuesday, dismissing critics’ suggestion that the appointment of Tong contravened the Catholic Code of Canon Law.
“The apostolic administrator will help the Vatican find a new bishop for Hong Kong ... and it would be more convenient and neutral for Tong to take up that role as he will not become the next bishop,” Zen said.
It would be more convenient and neutral for Tong to take up that role as he will not become the next bishop