Chinese bishop known for simplicity, religious fervor dies

Published: 2007-08-23

HONG KONG (CNS) -- The simplicity and religious fervor of Bishop Benedict Cai Xiufeng of Wuzhou, who died Aug. 20 at the age of 90, is well known among Catholics of the Guangxi autonomous region in southwestern China, said Catholics who knew him. "The departure of Bishop Cai is a big loss to the church," Bishop John Baptist Tan Yanquan of Nanning told the Asian church news agency UCA News Aug. 22. "We'll miss him." The late bishop was "fervent and spiritual" and prayed every morning and evening with his nuns and seminarians even when his health was failing, Bishop Tan said. Bishop Cai "sacrificed his whole life for the church," he added. Bishop Tan, now the only bishop in Guangxi, was to preside at the funeral Mass Aug. 24. The late prelate's body was to be cremated after the morning liturgy.

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