HANOI, Vietnam, FEB. 22, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The retired archbishop of Hanoi, Cardinal Paul Joseph Pham Dinh Tung, died Saturday at 89.
Today Vatican Radio reported his death and date of his funeral, which will take place on Feb. 26 in Hanoi.
He was ordained a priest in 1949. He was ordained a bishop in 1963, and served in the diocese of Bac Ninh until being named the archbishop of Hanoi in 1994.
Placed under house arrest for most of his episcopate, Bishop Pham Dinh Tung was unable to visit the more than 100 parishes in his jurisdiction. Instead, he dedicated his time to compile stanzas of poetry “luc bat,” a type of writing that helps people memorize facts easily, about the Gospels, Christian doctrine, Church teaching and the sacraments.
He established a boys’ school for catechetical training, which has already educated 200 catechists for all of Vietnam.
The cardinal retired in February 2005 and was replaced by Archbishop Joseph Ngó Quang Kiêt.
