This past October 22, Mgr Joseph Sun Zhibin, Bishop of the Apostolic Prefecture of Iduhsien (Yiduxian), in the province of Shandong (mainland China), passed away at the hospital. The "Osservatore Romano" broke the news today recalling that Mgr Sun Zhibin, aged 97, was the oldest Chinese Bishop. Born into a Catholic family in 1911, in 1923 he began seminary studies in the minor seminary and was ordained a priest in 1939. In 1953, he was sentenced to four years prison on account of his Catholic faith. During the Cultural Revolution (1966-76), he was arrested again and was sent to forced labour in a shoe factory. In 1980, following an increase in religious tolerance, he resumed his pastoral ministry. He was ordained Bishop of Yiduxian in 1988. His funeral, held on October 29 in the Cathedral of Yidu, was attended by many faithful in addition to civil authorities. They all came "to pay their respects to the elderly Prelate, who many described as a humble and kind pastor, who remained firm in the faith amidst times of trial in the Catholic Church in China." The Apostolic Prefecture of Iduhsien (Yiduxian) has nearly 12,000 Catholics. In the last 20 years, the Apostolic Prefecture has built 32 churches and chapels, and there are still many old churches, confiscated by the government, which have still not been returned to the Church.” “” “” ” ” ” ” ” ” “
