VATICAN CITY, DEC. 23, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI appointed Salesian Father Savio Hon Tai-Fai, 60, theology professor of the Hong Kong seminary, as secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
A Vatican communiqué announced today that the Pope also conferred the dignity of archbishop on the priest, who is a member of the International Theological Commission and ordinary academic of the Pontifical Academy of Theology.
Savio Hon Tai-Fai was born in Hong Kong and made his perpetual profession in 1975. He was ordained a Salesian priest in this same region in 1982.
Father Savio studied philosophy at the University of London and received a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Salesian University of Rome.
In addition to the various posts held in his institute, he has taught as a guest professor in several seminaries of China. The priest was responsible for the translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church into Chinese.
The Pope also appointed today Archbishop Francesco Coccopalmerio, 68, president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, as a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
South Africa
Lastly, for South Africa, the Holy Father appointed Bishop William Slattery, 67, of Kokstad, as archbishop of Pretoria and military ordinary.
William Slattery was born in Portlaoise, Ireland, and was ordained a priest in 1970.
He has been serving in the Kokstad Diocese since 1993.
The Pretoria Archdiocese has 206,200 Catholics, with 109 priests, 11 permanent deacons and 273 religious.
Monsignor Abel Gabuza, 55, who had been serving as apostolic administrator of the archdiocese, was appointed by Benedict XVI as bishop of Kimberley.
The Kimberley Diocese has 121,050 Catholics, 40 priests, four permanent deacons, and 25 religious.
