In the face of China’s complex religious landscape, Bishop Placidus Pei Ronggui remained a shepherd who led by example, guiding his flock through the narrow gate of fidelity
Newsroom (09/09/2025, Gaudium Press ) Bishop Placidus Pei Ronggui, a steadfast figure in China’s underground Catholic Church and a Trappist monk whose life bore witness to unwavering faith amid persecution, died on Saturday 6th September 2025 at the age of 91 in his native Hebei Province. His death marks the loss of a spiritual giant whose courage and fidelity to the Catholic Church inspired countless believers in a nation where religious freedom remains contested.
Born in 1934 in Hebei Province, Pei’s life was shaped by the trials of China’s turbulent 20th century. He entered the Trappist monastic order, a contemplative community rooted in silence and prayer, at a time when Catholicism faced severe repression under Mao Zedong’s regime. Hebei was once home to two Trappist abbeys: Our Lady of Consolation in Yangchiaping, razed by communist militias in 1947, and Our Lady of Joy in Chengting, where 33 monks were martyred. The surviving Trappists fled to Hong Kong, where, under the guidance of Bishop Enrico Valtorta, a PIME missionary, they reestablished the monastery of Our Lady of Joy in Thai Shui Hang in the early 1950s. These events left an indelible mark on Pei, who carried the legacy of his fellow Trappists throughout his life.
Ordained a priest in 1981 at the age of 48, after the Cultural Revolution’s devastating assault on religious life, Pei served with quiet resolve. His refusal to join the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, the state-sanctioned church controlled by the Communist Party, led to multiple imprisonments totaling four years after 1989. Yet, his commitment to an authentic Catholic faith never wavered. In 2001, with the approval of the Holy See, he was ordained coadjutor bishop of the underground Diocese of Luoyang in Henan Province by Bishop Peter Li Hongye, another stalwart of the clandestine Church who also endured imprisonment for his loyalty to Rome.
When Bishop Li died unexpectedly of a heart attack during the Easter Vigil in 2011, Pei, then in his late 70s, retired to his home village in Hebei. There, in a humble room converted into a chapel, he continued his priestly ministry, hearing confessions and offering spiritual guidance to the faithful. His simplicity and devotion made him a beacon for China’s underground Catholic communities, who faced constant pressure to conform to state oversight.
In 2016, Reuters interviewed Bishop Pei for a feature on China’s underground Church, capturing his resolute stance on the Vatican’s relationship with Beijing. “There’s no way there can be an independent Catholic Church in China because that is the opposite of the principles of the Catholic Church,” he declared. “They [the Chinese government] have to change; if they don’t change, then the pope cannot agree with them.” His words, spoken at a time of delicate negotiations between the Holy See and Beijing, underscored his conviction that fidelity to the universal Church superseded any temporal compromise.
Local Catholics, speaking to AsiaNews after his passing, recalled Bishop Pei’s teachings on suffering and faith. “He once told us: ‘In China, following the right path by believing in God and maintaining a pure faith inevitably leads to persecution,’” they shared. “‘But even if we suffer a little to bear witness to God, all this is still a blessing from Him.’” These words reflect the heart of Pei’s ministry: a life offered in sacrifice, trusting that persecution, borne for Christ, is a participation in divine grace.
Bishop Pei’s life exemplifies the call to martyrdom—not always in death, but in the daily surrender of self to God’s will. His fidelity mirrors the Trappist charism of contemplative endurance and the broader witness of China’s underground Church, which has clung to the Petrine office despite immense cost. His legacy challenges believers to see persecution not as defeat but as a path to sanctity, a truth rooted in Christ’s own Passion.
As news of his death spread, underground Catholic communities entrusted Bishop Pei’s soul to God’s mercy, expressing hope in his intercession. “We pray for Bishop Pei’s soul and entrust ourselves to his prayers,” they told AsiaNews. His life, marked by imprisonment, exile, and quiet heroism, stands as a testament to the enduring power of faith in a world often hostile to it.
In the face of China’s complex religious landscape, Bishop Placidus Pei Ronggui remained a shepherd who led by example, guiding his flock through the narrow gate of fidelity. His death closes a chapter in the history of the underground Church, but his witness continues to inspire those who seek to live the Gospel without compromise.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Asianews.it
Related Images:
