Chinese cardinal released after surgery to implant pacemaker

Published: 2008-04-01

HONG KONG (CNS) -- Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, 76, has been released from a hospital and has resumed pastoral duties after surgery to implant a pacemaker. The Hong Kong-based Chinese newspaper Apple Daily reported April 1 there was no angioplasty involved in the procedure. The report said the cardinal had a regular checkup March 20 and was admitted to the hospital the following day with an irregular heartbeat. He spent Easter, March 23, in the hospital. The Shanghai- born prelate was named a bishop and coadjutor of Hong Kong in 1996. He became bishop of Hong Kong in 2002 and was named a cardinal in 2006. On Jan. 30, Pope Benedict XVI named Auxiliary Bishop John Tong Hon of Hong Kong as coadjutor bishop of the diocese. As coadjutor, Bishop Tong, 68, will succeed Cardinal Zen upon his retirement or death.

Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .