Melchior Zhang Kexing

In this Chinese name, the family name is Zhang.

Melchior Zhang Kexing (simplified Chinese: 张克兴; traditional Chinese: 張克興; pinyin: Zhāng Kèxīng; 6 January 1914 – 6 November 1988) was a Chinese Catholic priest and Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Xiwanzi between 1951 and 1988.

Melchior Zhang Kexing
Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Xiwanzi
Church	Cathedral in Chongli
Archdiocese	Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Suiyuan
Installed	24 November 1951
Term ended	6 November 1988
Predecessor	Leon-Jean-Marie De Smedt
Successor	Andrew Hao
Orders
Ordination	18 March 1939
Personal details
Born	(1914-01-06)6 January 1914 Chahar province, China
Died	6 November 1988(1988-11-06) (aged 74) Xunahua, China
Nationality	Chinese
Denomination	Roman Catholic

Biography

Melchior Zhang Kexing was born into a wealthy family in Xiwanzi of Zhangjiakou, Chahar province, on 6 January 1914. He was ordained a priest on 18 March 1939. He became Auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Xiwanzi on 3 November 1949. On 24 May 1951, Bishop Leon-Jean-Marie De Smedt of Belgium held a consecration ceremony for him. On 24 November 1951, Bishop Leon-Jean-Marie De Smedt died in the prison of Zhangjiakou, and Melchior Zhang Kexing took over as Bishop. The Communist government also arrested Melchior Zhang Kexing, who was sentenced to 10 years of forced labour camp for opposing the triple autonomy of the churches, which involved breaking ties with the Holy See. In 1979, still a prisoner, he was transferred to Baoding as an interpreter, which significantly improved his living conditions. In February 1985, he lived with his sister in Xuanhua District, where he died on 6 November 1988.