Hong Kong’s new Catholic bishop pledges to unify divided city and start healing process among young

Stephen Chow says focus must be on listening to youth and nurturing empathy in them

Observers said his measured tone and political wisdom made him a neutral figure acceptable to city’s politically divided Catholics

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Bishop-elect Stephen Chow meets the media at the Catholic Diocese Centre. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 7:24pm, 18 May 2021Updated: 11:42pm, 18 May 2021

Bishop-elect Stephen Chow Sau-yan has pledged to unify Hong Kong’s politically divided Roman Catholic community, while nurturing empathy and helping the city’s youth to heal from past trauma.

His long-delayed appointment was announced by the Holy See on Monday after the post was left vacant for more than two years, at a time when the city’s political and religious freedoms were being tested by the civil unrest in 2019 and Beijing’s imposition of a sweeping national security law last June.

Meeting the press for the first time as bishop-elect on Tuesday, Chow spoke about his desire for reconciliation in Hong Kong society.

“It’s really important to accompany and listen to the young people of Hong Kong, and to nurture empathetic listening in them,” Chow said. “This is the only way for us to come together.”

Stephen Chow flanked by John Tong (left) and Joseph Ha. Photo: Sam Tsang

A trained educational psychologist, Chow has headed the Society of Jesus, Chinese Province in Hong Kong since 2018 and has been supervisor of its two Wah Yan College campuses, a top Catholic secondary school for boys, since 2007.

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