In a surprise move, after an exploration that lasted more than two years, Pope Francis has appointed Stephen Chow S.J.,  the provincial of the Chinese province of the Jesuits, as the ninth Catholic bishop of Hong Kong.

The Vatican announced this at noon today, Rome time, May 17. The diocese has been without a bishop since Jan. 3, 2019, when Bishop Michael Yeung Ming-cheung died after leading the diocese for just 17 months.

Chow, 61, head of Hong Kong's Jesuit order, will replace Cardinal John Tong, who has held the post in a caretaker capacity following the death of the previous bishop, Michael Yeung, in January 2019.

 Senior clerics in Hong Kong familiar with the situation said the new bishop must ease tensions among a flock divided between those wanting the diocese to do more to defend Hong Kong's waning freedoms and others, including some powerful establishment figures, who want a less confrontational approach.

The Vatican has taken time to find the man it considers best suited for this challenging and difficult post. The appointment comes on the heels of the most serious political crisis in Hong Kong since the handover on July 1, 1997.

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