Shock as Vatican brings Cardinal John Tong out of retirement to be acting head of Hong Kong diocese after death of bishop – blocking Occupy supporter Joseph Ha Chi-shing
- Tong dismisses suggestion Vatican stepped in to avoid Occupy supporter Reverend Joseph Ha being elected acting bishop, something that could offend Beijing
The Vatican has brought former bishop John Tong Hon out of retirement to serve as acting head of Hong Kong’s 400,000-strong Catholic community in a surprising and unprecedented move after his successor’s death last week.
Cardinal Tong himself expressed “shock” as he revealed on Monday that he was appointed on Saturday as apostolic administrator, which would grant him the same powers as the bishop who would eventually replace the late Michael Yeung Ming-cheung.
The Vatican unexpectedly stepped in before the local diocese could elect an acting bishop, who would have had fewer powers. Auxiliary bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing, a supporter of the Occupy movement for greater democracy, had been tipped for the role.
“When I heard of this appointment, I was shocked,” 80-year-old Tong said at a press briefing together with Ha, adding that he had never heard of such an arrangement before.
But he dismissed suggestions that the Vatican could be seeking to avoid offending Beijing by heading off Ha’s election.