[Top Stories]22/02/15 Pope appoints ethnic priest as new bishop in Taiwan

[성기화 요셉]

Pope appoints ethnic priest as new bishop in Taiwan 

Bishop-elect Norbert Pu is an ethnic Tsou who studied theology in Taiwan and Germany

UCA News reporter 

Published: February 16, 2022 07:21 AM GMT ▾

Trending

1

UN seeks answers over Papua human rights abusesFeb 15, 2022

2

Memories and prayers ease pandemic desolationsFeb 14, 2022

3

Crackdown threats hang over Cambodia's local electionsFeb 15, 2022

4

Myanmar military accused of war crimes against civiliansFeb 15, 2022

5

UN refugee who threw sandal at Hun Sen billboard freed from jailFeb 14, 2022

6

We ignore pope's 'throwaway culture' warning at our perilFeb 15, 2022

7

Prominent Indians call for repeal of anti-conversion lawsFeb 14, 2022

8

Catholic lay group leader in Philippines backs MarcosFeb 14, 2022

9

Chinese investors muscle out Cambodian tuk-tuk driversFeb 14, 2022

10

Life-changing or scam? Axie Infinity helps Philippines' poorFeb 15, 2022

Bishop-elect Norbert Pu of Chiayi, Taiwan. (Photo: Chinese Regional Bishops' Conference)

Pope Francis has appointed a native priest from the ethnic Tsou community as the new bishop of Chiayi Diocese in Taiwan.

Father Norbert Pu, 63, has been serving as the parish priest of Christ the King Church in Putzu since 2017, a Vatican bulletin said on Feb. 15 while announcing the appointment.

Bishop-elect Pu is the ninth bishop of Chiayi. He succeeds Bishop Thomas An-zu Chung, who served Chiayi Diocese from 2008 to 2020 before Pope Francis appointed him archbishop in national capital Taipei.

Born on Aug. 26, 1958, in Alishan, Chiayi, Norbert Pu obtained a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 1980 and in theology in 1985 from the Faculty of Theology of St. Robert Bellarmine at Fu Jen Catholic University in Taipei. He was ordained a priest on Jan. 1, 1987.

He studied theology at Saint Augustin University in Germany from 1994 to 2000 and acquired a master’s degree.

Since his ordination, he has served Chiayi Diocese in various roles. He was parish priest of St. John’s Cathedral Church (1988-94); acting parish priest of Diocesan Pilgrimages Center (2008-09); parish priest of Saint John’s Cathedral (2004-16) and diocesan consultor (2008-09).

Communist China still considers Taiwan as a breakaway province, not an independent nation, and has threatened to annex it militarily

He was president of the Commission for the Aboriginal Apostolate (2009-10) and offered pastoral services to aboriginal tribes in Taiwan.

Then he served as the president of the Commission for the Liturgy (2010-11); spiritual director of the pastoral regions of Chiayi (2011-13); member of the Cemeteries Commission for the diocesan Pilgrimages Centre and the Finance Commission (2013-14); spiritual director (2014-15) and member of the Priests’ Council (2015-16).

He spent June 2016 to July 2017 for further studies in Germany. On his return, he was appointed parish priest of Christ the King Church in Putzu.

Since 2017, he has served as diocesan consultor and a member of the Priests’ Council and of the Commission for Infant Schools. Since 2018, he has been vice-president of the Commission for the Liturgy and chaplain of the Catholic High School of Hong Ren.

Related News

-

Catholicism and Taiwan: A model of growing together

Photo book on Catholic churches depicts history of Taiwan

Taiwan cuts ties with big brother China

Vatican scoffs at Taiwan, Hong Kong pullout rumors

Chiayi Diocese covers 2,442 square kilometers and includes Chiayi city and the counties of Chiayi and Yunlin in the plains of southwestern Taiwan.

The diocese has about 18,000 Catholics and the estimated population of the diocesan territory is about 1.5 million.

Taiwan is a sovereign and democratic nation with a population of 24 million. Communist China still considers Taiwan as a breakaway province, not an independent nation, and has threatened to annex it militarily.

About 2 percent of Taiwan’s population hail from ethnic aboriginal groups, collectively known as Austronesian people with linguistic and genetic ties to the people of the Philippines and other Polynesian groups, says the Guide to Taipei website.

According to official statistics, about 35 percent of Taiwanese are Buddhists, 33 percent Taoists and non-religious about 19 percent. Christians account for about 4 percent.

Major Christian denominations include Protestants, Catholics and Mormons. Presbyterian Christians have played important roles in Taiwanese politics as they have been strongly associated with Taiwan's movement for democracy. Four of its five presidents since 1949 have been Christians.

The Catholic Church in Taiwan has about 300,000 members in one archdiocese and six dioceses, church data shows. A significant number of Catholics are refugees from mainland China and migrants from various countries including Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia.