Bishop Michael Yeung Ming-cheung of Hong Kong died on January 3 at the age of 73.

By Robin Gomes

The Catholic Bishop of Hong Kong, Michael Yeung Ming- cheung died on Thursday, after heading the diocese for only 17 months.

The 73-year old bishop passed away at Hong Kong’s Canossa Hospital after suffering liver failure due to cirrhosis. His funeral will be announced later.

Reports said Bishop Yeung had faced some health problems for years but did not elaborate. He said he had regular health checks and the issues were under control.

Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi- shing of Hong Kong told the media that the diocese was particularly saddened because the condition of Bishop Yeung had been described as stable only a few hours before he passed away on January 3.

Wednesday night, social media messages had urged prayers for Bishop Yeung, and senior church figures rushed to the hospital’s intensive care unit.

Last week, Bishop Yeung celebrated Christmas Eve Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and earlier on December 19, he released a video message for Christmas 2018.

Biography

Born in Shanghai on December 1, 1945, Bishop Yeung was ordained to the priesthood in Hong Kong on June 10, 1978. That year, he received a Bachelor’s degree in Theology from the Pontifical Urban University of Rome, Italy.

Since August 2003 he had been the head of Caritas Hong Kong and vicar general since 2009.

He continued his studies and obtained a master's degree in communications from Syracuse University and a master's degree in education from Harvard University in the U.S.

He also received an honorary doctorate in Social Science from the Open University of Hong Kong and an honorary doctorate from the Australian Catholic University.

He was a prelate of the Order of Malta Hong Kong and a lecturer of Hong Kong Holy Spirit Seminary College of Theology and Philosophy.

Pope Francis appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of Hong Kong on July 11, 2014, and was consecrated bishop on August 30 that year.

He was appointed Coadjutor Bishop on November 13, 2016, and succeeded Cardinal John Tong Hon as Bishop of Hong Kong on August 1, 2017.