VATICAN - Death of Rev. Fr Matteo King who served in the Chinese section of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – In the afternoon of Thursday July 9, in Taipei (Taiwan), Fr Matteo King, SDB, returned to the House of the Father. He was 79. On returning to Taiwan, after serving as an official in the Chinese section of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, he was found to be suffering of cancer of the stomach in the final stages. Medical treatment was of no avail. According to those around him, to the last moment of his life Fr Matteo prayed serenely. He blessed and thanked the Lord for three special gifts received in his life: to know Christ and to receive Baptism; to be a Salesian priest; to suffer from cancer. He was truly a great man, a great Salesian and a great soul. The funeral Mass will be held in the parish church of St Don Bosco in Taipei: Friday 17 July at 7.30pm and he will be buried on Saturday 18 July at 2.30 in the presence of a representative of the Missionary Congregation. Cardinal Ivan Dias, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, has sent telegrammes of condolence to the Rector Major of the Salesians and the Superior of the Salesians in Taipei. A requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of Rev King, will be celebrated on Saturday 11 July at 8am in the Chapel of the Three Kings at Palazzo Propaganda Fide in Rome. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 10/7/2009; righe 14, parole 203)