Macau to have new Bishop, ‘some changes’ expected

Bishop José Lai is resigning due to health reasons

Pope Francis has approved the appointment of Hong Kong’s Stephen Lee as the new bishop of Macau, the Holy See Press Office revealed.
Speaking about the selection of Lee, Benedict Keith Ip, a theologist and the associate editor at O Clarim (Macau Catholic Weekly) said: “I have mixed feelings … Lai will be missed, but we can expect some changes [with the new appointment].”
“[Lee is] very knowledgeable and quite well-known. He is knowledgeable in canon law and educational affairs, and church history.”
The former Auxiliary Bishop of Hong Kong will replace the outgoing Macanese Bishop José Lai, who is resigning due to health reasons.  His appointment will be effective from January 23.
O Clarim reported on the weekend that Stephen Lee “will take possession of the Diocese of Macau on Saturday, January 23, at 3 p.m. with a Eucharistic celebration that will take place at the Cathedral to mark the 440th Anniversary of the establishment of the Diocese of Macau.”
Keith Ip claimed that the appointment of 59-year-old Lee “is quite remarkable because it follows the tradition of appointing a 50-something-year-old.”
Jose Lai was appointed in 2001 at the age of 55, but he did not take office until June 2003. “They are both quite young for this appointment,” added Ip.
In response to speculation that Lee will bring a dose of Hong Kong’s political activism to the role, Ip said that it was probably too early to tell. “In general the Church needs to be more active in participating [in society] and contributing to universal values. This is not only the responsibility for a priest, however, but a responsibility for all of us,” he said. Staff reporter