Savio Hon Tai-Fai
Encyclopedia
Savio Tai Fai Hon SDB
(born 21 October 1950) is a Roman Catholic archbishop and the current secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI
on 23 December 2010. He had previously served as professor of Theology at the Holy Spirit Seminary of Hong Kong
.
Hon was born in Hong Kong
. After studying a Salesian school, he made his first religious profession on 15 August 1969. He made perpetual vows on 15 August 1975 and was ordained
a priest in Hong Kong 17 July 1982. He received his BA in philosophy from University of London
and a doctorate
in theology at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome
.
He has held various positions within his Institute, including: Provincial Secretary, Dean of the House provincial, Provincial Delegate of Social Communications, Chair and President in most provincial chapters, Vice-Provincial, Provincial Delegate in more general chapters, Moderator General Chapter of 2002. He worked as a teaching as visiting professor at various seminaries in China
. The scientific work has appeared in various publications, especially of Theology. It has also been responsible for the translation into Chinese of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He belongs to the Salesian Province of China which encompasses China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan
.
He became a member of the Pontifical Academy of Theology in 1999. He has served as a member of the International Theological Commission
since 2004. He had been serving as professor of theology at the seminary of Hong Kong when on on 23 December 2010 he was appointed Titular Archbishop of Sila and secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples by Pope Benedict XVI
. Archbishop-elect Hon Tai-Fai succeeds Robert Sarah
, who was appointed as president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum
Hon Tai-Fai said he received notification just hours before the Holy See Press Office made the official announcement. He said his “first thing to do now is to pray for God’s grace to become a suitable tool.” Father Hon Tai Fai has known the pope for many years, since the then-Cardinal Ratzinger was ex officio president of the International Theological Commission in his role as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
. The pope often showed his concern for the Church in China
when they met, he said. Father Hon Tai-Fai anticipates that in his new role the Roman Curia
may consult him on Chinese Church affairs, thanks to his years of experiences as visiting professor to various seminaries in China.
Archbishop Hon was ordained to the episcopate in Rome on 5 February 2011 by Pope Benedict along with Archbishop
Marcello Bartolucci
, Secretary of the Congregation of the Causes of Saints who was named on the same day as Celso Morga Iruzubieta
was appointed as Secretary of the Congregation of the Clergy. The co-consecrators were Cardinals Angelo Sodano
and Tarcisio Bertone. Archbishop Hon said during his ordination: "I could feel an airstream when the pope laid his hands with strength on my head", adding that this rite is to pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance to the candidate to pass on the apostolic succession.
In March 2011 Archbishop Hon Tai-Fai said the planned ordainations priests by the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association
means, “division [. . .] causes great pain to the entire body” and the “whole body is scarred and bleeding,”. No bishop can be appointed canonically
without a papal mandate. He continued saying that, those who have resisted the will of the party, like Mgr Li Lianghui (Cangzhou, Hebei), are now in isolation, forced to undergo political education classes (brain washing). He insists that Chinese priests and bishops must show “some backbone” and resist the pressures out of love for Church unity, and the memory of the many heroic witnesses to the faith of the past decades. He has also been continuously asking for the release of imprisoned bishops (Mgr James Su Zhimin of Baoding and Mgr Cosma Shi Enxiang of Yixian) but is not getting any answer from the government in Beijing.
In July 2011 Archbishop Hon Tai-Fai while addressing hundreds of delegates from Eastern Africa (AMECEA) during the 17th plenary assembly in Nairobi, Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai, the secretary of the Congregation for Evangelization also stressed the ever increasing role of the lay faithful in evangelization. He said that “Given that between 70% -80% of our church collaborators are women, AMECEA should make the effort to increase room for them in decision making processes", he said. He warned against the culture of death especially abortion and other ‘ideological poisons from abroad’, which are leading to the erosion of certain African values whose sense of family the church supports. “AMECEA as a community of Christians has been useful in promoting the family beyond the limits of blood relationship and tribal allegiance,” he said, in reference to the many inter-ethnic conflicts engulfing the region.
Hon Tai-Fai, speaking at a priestly ordaintion said that there are three identities that a priest must incarnate: missionary, mediator and martyr.
SDB
SDB or sdb can stand for:* Safe deposit box, a type of safe* Salesians of Don Bosco, a Roman Catholic religious order* Schiller-Duval body, a pathologic finding pathognomonic for Endodermal sinus tumors...
(born 21 October 1950) is a Roman Catholic archbishop and the current secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Rome is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for missionary work and related activities...
since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
on 23 December 2010. He had previously served as professor of Theology at the Holy Spirit Seminary of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
.
Hon was born in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. After studying a Salesian school, he made his first religious profession on 15 August 1969. He made perpetual vows on 15 August 1975 and was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
a priest in Hong Kong 17 July 1982. He received his BA in philosophy from University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
and a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in theology at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
He has held various positions within his Institute, including: Provincial Secretary, Dean of the House provincial, Provincial Delegate of Social Communications, Chair and President in most provincial chapters, Vice-Provincial, Provincial Delegate in more general chapters, Moderator General Chapter of 2002. He worked as a teaching as visiting professor at various seminaries in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. The scientific work has appeared in various publications, especially of Theology. It has also been responsible for the translation into Chinese of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He belongs to the Salesian Province of China which encompasses China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
.
He became a member of the Pontifical Academy of Theology in 1999. He has served as a member of the International Theological Commission
International Theological Commission
The International Theological Commission of the Roman Catholic Church consists of up to 30 Catholic theologians from around the world. These theologians are appointed for renewable five year terms and have tended to meet together in person once every year for a week...
since 2004. He had been serving as professor of theology at the seminary of Hong Kong when on on 23 December 2010 he was appointed Titular Archbishop of Sila and secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
. Archbishop-elect Hon Tai-Fai succeeds Robert Sarah
Robert Sarah
Robert Sarah is a Guinean Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church; he is the current President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 7 October 2010. He had previously served as secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples...
, who was appointed as president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum
Pontifical Council Cor Unum
The Pontifical Council Cor Unum for Human and Christian Development is a part of the Curia of the Catholic Church. It was established by Pope Paul VI on 15 July 1971 and is based in the Palazzo San Callisto, in Piazza San Callisto, Rome....
Hon Tai-Fai said he received notification just hours before the Holy See Press Office made the official announcement. He said his “first thing to do now is to pray for God’s grace to become a suitable tool.” Father Hon Tai Fai has known the pope for many years, since the then-Cardinal Ratzinger was ex officio president of the International Theological Commission in his role as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , previously known as the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition , and after 1904 called the Supreme...
. The pope often showed his concern for the Church in China
Roman Catholicism in China
Roman Catholicism in China has a long and complicated history...
when they met, he said. Father Hon Tai-Fai anticipates that in his new role the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
may consult him on Chinese Church affairs, thanks to his years of experiences as visiting professor to various seminaries in China.
Archbishop Hon was ordained to the episcopate in Rome on 5 February 2011 by Pope Benedict along with Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Marcello Bartolucci
Marcello Bartolucci
Marcello Bartolucci is the current secretary of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 29 December 2010. He had previously served as under-secretary of the dicastry....
, Secretary of the Congregation of the Causes of Saints who was named on the same day as Celso Morga Iruzubieta
Celso Morga Iruzubieta
Celso Morga Iruzubieta is the Secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy, appointed by Pope Benedict XVI on 29 December 2010....
was appointed as Secretary of the Congregation of the Clergy. The co-consecrators were Cardinals Angelo Sodano
Angelo Sodano
Angelo Sodano is an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current Dean of the College of Cardinals and former Vatican Secretary of State, having held that post from 1990 to 2006, under both popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI...
and Tarcisio Bertone. Archbishop Hon said during his ordination: "I could feel an airstream when the pope laid his hands with strength on my head", adding that this rite is to pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance to the candidate to pass on the apostolic succession.
In March 2011 Archbishop Hon Tai-Fai said the planned ordainations priests by the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association
Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association
The Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association , abbreviated CPA, CPCA, or CCPA, is an association of people, established in 1957 by the People's Republic of China's Religious Affairs Bureau to exercise state supervision over mainland China's Catholics...
means, “division [. . .] causes great pain to the entire body” and the “whole body is scarred and bleeding,”. No bishop can be appointed canonically
Appointment of Catholic bishops
The appointment of bishops in the Catholic Church is a complicated process. Outgoing bishops, neighbouring bishops, the faithful, the apostolic nuncio, various members of the Roman Curia, and the pope all have a role in the selection...
without a papal mandate. He continued saying that, those who have resisted the will of the party, like Mgr Li Lianghui (Cangzhou, Hebei), are now in isolation, forced to undergo political education classes (brain washing). He insists that Chinese priests and bishops must show “some backbone” and resist the pressures out of love for Church unity, and the memory of the many heroic witnesses to the faith of the past decades. He has also been continuously asking for the release of imprisoned bishops (Mgr James Su Zhimin of Baoding and Mgr Cosma Shi Enxiang of Yixian) but is not getting any answer from the government in Beijing.
In July 2011 Archbishop Hon Tai-Fai while addressing hundreds of delegates from Eastern Africa (AMECEA) during the 17th plenary assembly in Nairobi, Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai, the secretary of the Congregation for Evangelization also stressed the ever increasing role of the lay faithful in evangelization. He said that “Given that between 70% -80% of our church collaborators are women, AMECEA should make the effort to increase room for them in decision making processes", he said. He warned against the culture of death especially abortion and other ‘ideological poisons from abroad’, which are leading to the erosion of certain African values whose sense of family the church supports. “AMECEA as a community of Christians has been useful in promoting the family beyond the limits of blood relationship and tribal allegiance,” he said, in reference to the many inter-ethnic conflicts engulfing the region.
Hon Tai-Fai, speaking at a priestly ordaintion said that there are three identities that a priest must incarnate: missionary, mediator and martyr.