Hong Kong’s newly appointed Cardinal Stephen Chow to lead delegation to Mongolia next month for visit by Pope Francis
- Cardinal Stephen Chow will be part of 30-strong group on seven-day trip coinciding with papacy’s inaugural visit to the country
- Pope Francis will be in Mongolia between August 31 and September 4, where he will deliver four speeches and a homily
The 30-strong group will meet representatives from the Mongolian Catholic Church to learn about its missionary work and join activities associated with the papacy’s inaugural visit to the country.
Pope Francis will be in Mongolia between August 31 and September 4, where he will deliver four speeches and a homily. The Asian nation will welcome him at an official ceremony at Sukhbaatar Square on September 2, before the first of his speeches.
New Hong Kong Cardinal Stephen Chow says elevation has given him ‘new mission’
The Pope will meet Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh during the trip, as well as representatives from the local authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps.
Hong Kong’s delegation will arrive on August 31 and depart two days after Pope Francis leaves, on September 6.
Chow, 63, will be one of 21 new cardinals appointed by Pope Francis at the end of September – a promotion that will qualify him to vote in elections to choose future leaders of the church.
Hong Kong Bishop Stephen Chow appointed to College of Cardinals by Pope Francis
His elevation was announced by the pontiff earlier this month during his weekly public appearance at St Peter’s Square in Rome.
Chow will be the fourth cardinal from Hong Kong, following the late John Baptist Wu Cheng-chung, 91-year-old Joseph Zen Ze-kiun and 83-year-old John Tong Hon.
The Pope appointed Chow as bishop of the Catholic diocese of Hong Kong two years ago, making him one of the youngest to hold the position since the first Chinese prelate was appointed in 1969, following the death of Michael Yeung Ming-cheung in 2019. Chow is widely seen as a moderate, or politically neutral.
