There are onnly about twenty underground bishops still living. All are over seventy, most in their eighties. During the Easter Vigil service last Saturday the most recent to die was Mgr. Peter Li Hongye, 91, bishop of Luoyang. He had spent fifteen years in hard labor from 1955-1970 and was not released from prison until 1985. When “free” he was always ill and was kept under constant house surveillance. One by one the heroes die.
Asia News: Luoyang (AsiaNews) – Mgr. Peter Li Hongye, 91, bishop of Luoyang (Henan) died of a heart attack on April 23 last, during the Easter Vigil, as he blessed the water before baptisms. He was approved by the Holy See, but not recognized by the government in Beijing. His faithful remember him for his fortitude in living his vocation and his suffering in the forced labour camps and the time spent under surveillance. Read more about Bishop Peter Li here.
