BEIJING, APRIL 20, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Bishop Fu Tieshan, a prominent prelate from China's state-approved church, died today from lung cancer. He was 75.
The Xinhua news agency announced the death of the Beijing leader, saying that he had served as bishop of that see since 1979, when religion was recovering from the Cultural Revolution.
Bishop Fu served the religious organization which is under the control of the Patriotic Association and often at odds with the underground Church, loyal to Rome.
After a Vatican study earlier this year of the situation of the Church in China, Benedict XVI has promised to write Chinese Catholics a particular letter and there is talk that a commission to continue evaluating the situation will be established.
Code: ZE07042009
Date: 2007-04-20