ROME, 12 (NE) The last Chinese Bishop appointed by the Holy See, Bishop Matthias Duan Yinming of Wanxian, died on January 10 at the age of 92. As Fides news agency reported, there have many expressions of thanks and recognition for the Prelate’s long ministry in China.

    "I pray for the Pope every day, for his mission, his health and I ask the Holy Spirit to sustain the Pope’s service to humanity. I would also like to express to him my profound loyalty. On behalf of Chinese Catholics: I can say that they love him deeply, they pray daily for him and join me in this message of congratulations." Bishop Duan voiced in this way his loyalty to the universal Church and the Bishop of Rome, during an interview with Fides, the last, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s election to the Chair of Peter, October 16, 1998.

    Bishop Duan was also one of the two Chinese Bishops who were unable to attend the Special Synod for Asia held in Rome in 1998, because the Chinese government refused to grant them visas. On that occasion, risking punishment for keeping relations with a foreign state, Bishop Duan sent a fax message to Cardinal Schotte, President of the Synod, expressing his dismay, but also his profound faith.

    Born on February 22, 1908 in Daxian diocese, Sichuan Province, Matthias Duan Yinming studied for the priesthood in Rome at the Pontifical Urban University and was ordained a priest on March 27, 1937. On returning to China the following year he was appointed rector of the major seminary at Wanxian. On June 9, 1949, Pope Pius XII appointed him Bishop of Wanxian.

For other news stories, see

January 12, 2001
volume 12, no. 12
Global News from the Universal Church

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