Pope appoints Chinese to senior post at Vatican’s missionary department

(December 24, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday appointed a Chinese priest as secretary of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the Vatican department responsible for missionary work which has jurisdiction over the Church in China. Salesian priest Fr. Savio Hon Tai-fai, told Ucanews that the “first thing to do now is to pray for God’s grace to become a suitable tool.” The 60-year old Hong Kong-born priest believes his appointment showed “the Pope’s fervent love for China.” With this appointment the Pope also elevated him to the rank of an archbishop. Fr. Tai-Fai is professor at the Holy Spirit Seminary College of Hong Kong diocese, and is also a visiting professor at mainland Chinese seminaries. He is also a member of the Pontifical Academy of Theology and the International Theological Commission.