I can fast for 72-hours, Joseph Zen Ze-Kiun
by Anura Guruge
On Friday, January 13, 2012, Chinese Cardinal Priest Joseph Zen Ze-Kiun, S.D.B. (Salesian), turned 80 and thus ceased to be a cardinal elector.
He was the Bishop of Hong Kong from September 2002 until April 2009, when, at 77, he retired per the nominal ’75-year’ retirement requirement in Canon 401 of the 1983 Code. He was created a cardinal priest in March 2006. In October 2011 he was in the news when he said he would go on a 72-hour hunger strike to protest the rigidness of the Chinese Education Ordinance that permits ‘outsiders’ [e.g., parents, teachers and past students] to participate in the management committees of Catholic schools.
Currently he is the only cardinal from China, though a new one will be created in February.
He becomes the second cardinal to age out in 2012. He is the last cardinal to age out prior to the February 18, 2012 cardinal creating consistory that will create 22 new cardinals.
The College continues 192, but the electors are now down to 107.
Hong Kong by night
As of January 13, 2012, there are 107 cardinal electors with 85 no longer able to participate in a conclave.
[The electors represent 56% of cardinals.]
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The College as of December 11, 2011 has been at 192.
Please CLICK on image to ENLARGE.
Summary of Major Changes in the Last 12 Months
January 13, 2012: 80-Year old Chinese Cardinal Priest Joseph Zen Ze-Kiun, S.D.B. ceased to be a cardinal elector.
** College continues at 192, electors down to 107 **
January 6, 2012: 80-Year old Portuguese Cardinal Bishop José Saraiva Martins, C.M.F. ceased to be a cardinal elector.
** College continues at 192, electors down to 108 **
January 5, 2012: 76-Year old Italian Cardinal Deacon Fortunato Baldelli retires as Major Penitentiary.
** College continues at 192, electors continue at 109 **
◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊ 2012 ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊
Changes to the College in 2011. Click image for post.
◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊ 2011 ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊
Refer to this post for changes in 2010 and 2009.
