Vatican City — The pope on Wednesday named a Hong Kong bishop to eventually succeed Cardinal Joseph Zen, the leading proponent for religious freedom in China.
Pope Benedict XVI nominated Monsignor John Tong Hon, a Hong Kong auxiliary bishop, as coadjutor bishop, meaning he will take over as head of the Hong Kong diocese upon Zen's retirement.
Zen is 76, a year past the normal retirement age for bishops, but there has been no word on when he would step down. Last March, he said the pope had rejected his request to give up his duties as a bishop so he could concentrate on working to restore ties between the Vatican and Beijing.
Zen has been an outspoken champion of religious freedom, at times drawing the ire of China's Communist authorities.
Bishop Tong, 68, was born in Hong Kong. He serves as an adviser to the Vatican's office for missionary work and is a member of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
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