Salesian Cardinal Angelo Amato, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, has welcomed the recent appointment of the first Chinese archbishop to a Vatican department. Archbishop-elect Savio Hon Tai-fai is the “Uomo giusto al posto giusto (the right man in the right place) not because he is a Salesian,” Cardinal Amato said of the appointment of his confrere as Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Cardinal Amato was addressing staff and students at the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome on Jan. 18 to start Christian Unity Week. Archbishop-elect Hon, a former provincial of the Chinese Salesian province, obtained his bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees in theology from the Salesian university in Rome. He was also the first Chinese member of the International Theological Commission. The archbishop-elect was appointed to his new position by Pope Benedict XVI on Dec. 23. He will be ordained by the Pope on Feb. 5, the third day of the Chinese Lunar New Year. As a Chinese priest assuming the most senior post ever in the Roman Curia, Archbishop-elect Hon told ucanews.com recently that he has felt “pressure every day” since the announcement. “I’m reluctant to leave my hometown and take the Vatican post, but I will devote every effort to follow God’s will,” he said. Currently there are six Salesians in Vatican departments including three cardinals, one archbishop and two bishops. Related storie Pope appoints Chinese to senior Vatican role ZY12907.1637