WANZHOU, China – Bishop Joseph Xu Zhixuan of Wanzhou (ex Wanxian), a city in Chongqing municipality in central China, died of multiple organ failure last Monday, feast day of the Immaculate Conception, at the age of 92. He was one of two bishops John Paul II had invited to the Synod for Asia in 1998 who could not attend because of obstacles put up by the authorities. To underscore their forced absence, the Vatican set aside two seats that remained unoccupied throughout the Synod assembly.

The diocese of Wanzhou covers Wanzhou District and eight counties in a mountainous area. Local Catholic communities are estimated to have some 60,000 members, scattered along the Yangtze River. Pastoral care is now in the hands of the coadjutor bishop and 11 diocesan priests.