Commemorating a Century of the Indigenization of the Chinese Catholic Church
Commemorating a Century of the Indigenization of the Chinese Catholic Church
09
Sep
09/09/2025
Prof. Franz Gassner presented a paper on Cardinal Thomas Tien Ken-sin 田耕莘 SVD at “The International Symposium on the Centennial of the Consecration of the first Six Chinese Bishops in Rome (1926) — The Indigenization of the Chinese Catholic Church and the Rise of Chinese Cardinals”.
Prof. Franz Gassner, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy at USJ Macao presented a paper at “The International Symposium on the Centennial of the Consecration of the first Six Chinese Bishops in Rome (1926)—The Indigenization of the Chinese Catholic Church and the Rise of Chinese Cardinals”, held at the Hong Kong Baptist University from 11 – 12 August, 2025.
The conference commemorated the centenary of the consecration of the first six Chinese bishops in modern times, which took place in Rome in 1926, a pivotal moment in the indigenization process of the Chinese Catholic Church. It explored further the lives and achievements of Chinese cardinals who played significant roles in this process.
Prof. Gassner presented his paper on Cardinal Thomas Tien Ken-sin 田耕莘 SVD: “Roots, SVD Formation and Indigenization Efforts: The Selection of Bishop Thomas Tien Ken-sin 田耕莘 as the First Cardinal of China and the Far East“. Bishop Thomas Tien SVD was elected in 1946 to the College of Cardinals during a very challenging time. He was part of 2 Conclaves, 1958 (election of Pope John XXIII) and in 1963 (election of Pope Paul VI). Part of the conference were also visits to the Archives on the History of Christianity in China, Hong Kong Baptist University Library, and the Archives of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong.
[Portrait of Cardinal Thomas Tien Ken-sin 田耕莘 SVD]
