On Sept. 30, 2023, Pope Francis created Bishop Stephen Chow Sau-yan a Cardinal. On May 17, 2021 Pope Francis appointed him as the bishop of Hong Kong.
Bishop Chow was the Jesuit provincial superior of the Chinese Province at the time of his appointment.
He succeeded Bishop Michael Yeung Ming-cheung, who died on Jan. 3, 2019.
Bishop Chow was born on Aug. 7, 1959, in Hong Kong.
After his pre-university studies, he obtained a baccalaureate and master's degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota, USA.
He then joined the Society of Jesus on Sept. 27, 1984.
From 1986 to 1988, he completed his novitiate and licentiate in philosophy in Ireland. He continued the theological studies in Hong Kong from 1988 to 1993.
Bishop Chow was ordained a priest on July 16, 1994.
He received a master's degree in organizational development (1993-1995) at Loyola University in Chicago, and a doctorate in human development and psychology from Harvard University in Boston (2000-2006).
He professed his final vows on April 17, 2007.
Bishop Chow has served as supervisor of two Jesuit colleges in Hong Kong since 2007.
He also served as honorary assistant professor at the University of Hong Kong (2008-2015) and Jesuit formator (2009-2017).
He has served as chairman of the education commission of the Chinese Jesuit Province since 2009.
Bishop Chow became the provincial of the Chinese Province of the Society of Jesus on Jan. 1, 2018, and vice-secretary of the Association of Religious Superiors of Male Institutes in Hong Kong in 2020.
