Bishop Pietro Paolo Li Panshi, 95, Dies

Bishop Pietro Paolo Li Panshi, 95, Dies

His Top Concerns Included Formation of Clergy

ZHONGSHAN, China, FEB. 5, 2007 (Zenit.org).- A Chinese bishop who, in the wake of the Cultural Revolution, made reconciliation among Catholics and formation of the clergy his main concerns, has died.

Bishop Pietro Paolo Li Panshi died at 95 on Jan. 4, the Fides news agency reported last week.

He was the bishop of Jiangmen, in the Guangdong province.

The prelate's funeral service was presided over by Bishop Giuseppe Liao Hongquing of Kaying, Meixian/Meizhou, together with the vicar general and all the priests of the diocese. About 1,000 Catholics, and several civil authorities were in attendance.

Bishop Li was buried in the Catholic cemetery of Zhongshan.

Born on July 12, 1911, he entered Macao Seminary in 1922. He was ordained a priest in 1944.

For many years after 1949, Father Li earned a living growing bananas and keeping rabbits, while he continued to announce the Gospel.

After the Cultural Revolution of 1966-1976 he was allowed to return to his village to work as a peasant.

In 1981, he was given permission to resume his pastoral work in the city of Zhongshan. That year he was ordained a bishop.

The little money he managed to save served for the formation of clergy.

The Diocese of Jiangmen has about 20,000 Catholics, primarily in the cities of Foshan, Jiangmen and Zhongshan, and in 20 rural counties.

Its eight priests have to speak three languages -- Cantonese, Hacca and Mandarin -- to carry out their pastoral work.