Tong Hon, John (1939-…), was appointed a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church in 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI. Cardinals are high-ranking clergymen in the church. They advise the pope and elect the pope’s successor after he dies or resigns. Since 2009, Tong has served as bishop of the diocese of Hong Kong. A diocese is a church district.
Tong is an expert on the Catholic Church in China. Since 1980, he has directed the Holy Spirit Study Centre in Hong Kong. This research institution studies issues related to the Catholic Church in China. Tong also has taught and held various administrative posts at Holy Spirit Seminary College in Hong Kong since 1970.
Tong was born in Hong Kong on July 31, 1939. He became a priest in 1966. Tong received a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome in 1969. In 1979, he received a master’s degree in philosophy from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Tong has held the positions of vicar general and auxiliary bishop of Hong Kong. Both positions involve assisting the bishop. Cardinal John Baptist Wu Cheng-chung of Hong Kong appointed Tong vicar general in 1992. Pope John Paul II appointed Tong auxiliary bishop in 1996. In 2008, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him coadjutor bishop. A coadjutor is an assisting bishop who succeeds the bishop of a diocese after he retires or dies. Tong became the bishop of Hong Kong in 2009 following the retirement of Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun.
