Paul Shan Kuo-hsi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence Paul Shan Kuo-hsi |
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| Bishop Emeritus of Kaohsiung Cardinal-Priest of San Crisogono |
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Cardinal Shan
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| Diocese | Roman Catholic Diocese of Kaohsiung |
| Enthroned | 17 June 1991 |
| Reign ended | 5 January 2006 |
| Predecessor | Joseph Cheng |
| Successor | Peter Liu |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1955 |
| Consecration | 1980 |
| Created Cardinal | 21 February 1998 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 December 1924 Puyang, Zhili, China |
| Died | 22 August 2012 (aged 87) New Taipei City, Taiwan |
| Nationality | Republic of China national |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Motto | INSTAURARE OMNIA IN CHRISTO |
| Styles of Paul Shan Kuo-hsi |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | Kaohsiung (emeritus) |
Paul Shan Kuo-hsi (born December 3, 1924 – died August 22, 2012) was an important leader in the Catholic Church. He was a cardinal and a member of the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. He served as a bishop in different cities in Taiwan, like Hualien and Kaohsiung. He also led Fu Jen Catholic University as its chairman.
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About Cardinal Paul Shan Kuo-hsi
Paul Shan Kuo-hsi was born in Puyang, a city in China. He joined the Society of Jesus on September 11, 1946. This is a group of Catholic priests and brothers who dedicate their lives to serving God and others. He made his final promises to the group on February 2, 1963.
His Education and Studies
Paul Shan Kuo-hsi studied at several universities. He first went to St. Joseph Regional Seminary and Berchmans College in the Philippines. There, he earned a special degree called a licentiate in philosophy. This means he studied deep ideas about life and knowledge.
He continued his studies at Bellarmine College, also in the Philippines, where he earned another licentiate, this time in theology. Theology is the study of religious faith and God. He also got a diploma in education science from Xavier University. Later, he went to the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy. There, he earned a doctorate in theology, which is the highest university degree.
Besides his first language, Mandarin Chinese, he was very good at speaking many other languages. He could speak Latin, English, French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese.
His Work as a Priest
After becoming a priest in 1955, Paul Shan Kuo-hsi continued his studies for a few years. From 1957 to 1959, he worked as a director at the Chinese section of Sacred Heart School in Cebu, Philippines.
He then spent time in Vietnam and Taiwan, helping to train new members of the Society of Jesus. He was a master of novices, which means he guided young men who were just starting their journey to become Jesuits. He also served as a rector (leader) of St. Ignatius Institute in Taipei from 1970 to 1976. During this time, he also led the Catholic Schools Association in Taiwan.
Becoming a Bishop
On November 15, 1979, Pope John Paul II chose Paul Shan Kuo-hsi to become the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hualien in Taiwan. A bishop is a high-ranking leader in the Catholic Church who oversees a specific area called a diocese. He officially became Bishop of Hualien on February 14, 1981.
After serving in Hualien, he was appointed Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kaohsiung, also in Taiwan, on March 4, 1991. He took on this new role on June 17, 1991.
Becoming a Cardinal
On February 21, 1998, Pope John Paul II appointed Paul Shan Kuo-hsi as a Cardinal-Priest. This is a very high honor in the Catholic Church. Cardinals are special advisors to the Pope and, if they are under 80, can vote for a new Pope.
Cardinal Shan was the only known Chinese Cardinal for some time. He retired from his role as Bishop in January 2006. He passed away on August 22, 2012, after an illness.
