Chinese Bishop Zhao, jailed during Cultural Revolution, dies at 94

Published: 2004-05-21

HONG KONG (CNS) -- Bishop Augustine Zhao Jingnong of Tianshui, China, who spent 13 years in a hard-labor camp, died May 16 at the age of 94. Father Zhao Jianzhang, the diocese's administrator and grandnephew of the late bishop, told UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand, that Bishop Zhao died of pneumonia. He said Bishop Zhao, who belonged to the government-approved Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, presided at Mass on major church feasts until recently, but was too weak to celebrate Holy Week Masses in April. The bishop's funeral was scheduled for May 24, followed by burial in the cathedral garden. Despite his advanced age and immobility, the bishop had been vice president of the local government's political consultative conference, though he had not participated in meetings in recent years, a church worker told UCA News.

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