Enrico Valtorta
Encyclopedia
Enrico Pascal Valtorta (14 May 1883 - 3 September 1951) was the last Apostolic Vicar and the first Roman Catholic bishop of Hong Kong
. He was born in Italy
at Carate Brianza
, and was ordained priest on 30 March 1907 for the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME
). He arrived in Hong Kong on 5 October 1907 and from 1909 to 1911 was apostolic missionary for Nam Tau (San On District) and Sai Kung (New Territories
); Rector
of St. Joseph's Church at Garden Road
and teacher at seminary
in 1913; Chaplain
to Victoria Gaol (1921–1925).
Appointed 4th Vicar Apostolic of Hong Kong on 8 March 1926, was consecrated Titular Bishop
of Lerus on 13 June 1926. Hong Kong Apostolic Vicariate
was raised to a Diocese
on 11 April 1946. Bishop Valtorta was installed as Bishop
of the Hong Kong Diocese on 31 October1948. He died in Hong Kong in 1951. Valtorta College in Tai Po
was named after him.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. He was born in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
at Carate Brianza
Carate Brianza
Carate Brianza is a town and comune in the province of Monza and Brianza. The city lies at an altitude ranging from 230 and 300 m above sea level, on the Lambro river.- History :...
, and was ordained priest on 30 March 1907 for the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME
Pime
The Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions is a society of secular priests and lay people who dedicate their lives to missionary activities in: Algeria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Guinea-Bissau, Hong Kong, India, Ivory Coast, Japan, Mexico, Myanmar , Papua New Guinea, Philippines and...
). He arrived in Hong Kong on 5 October 1907 and from 1909 to 1911 was apostolic missionary for Nam Tau (San On District) and Sai Kung (New Territories
New Territories
New Territories is one of the three main regions of Hong Kong, alongside Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. It makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong's territory. Historically, it is the region described in The Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory...
); Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of St. Joseph's Church at Garden Road
Garden Road, Hong Kong
Garden Road is a major road on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, connecting the Central and Mid-levels areas.At its lower end, Garden Road forms a grade-separated intersection with Queensway. For most of its length, Garden Road carries traffic only in the downhill direction. Uphill traffic is carried...
and teacher at seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
in 1913; Chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
to Victoria Gaol (1921–1925).
Appointed 4th Vicar Apostolic of Hong Kong on 8 March 1926, was consecrated Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Lerus on 13 June 1926. Hong Kong Apostolic Vicariate
Apostolic vicariate
An apostolic vicariate is a form of territorial jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church established in missionary regions and countries that do not have a diocese. It is essentially provisional, though it may last for a century or more...
was raised to a Diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
on 11 April 1946. Bishop Valtorta was installed as Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Hong Kong Diocese on 31 October1948. He died in Hong Kong in 1951. Valtorta College in Tai Po
Tai Po
Tai Po is an area in the New Territories of Hong Kong. It refers to the vicinity of the traditional market towns in the area presently known as Tai Po Old Market or Tai Po Kau Hui and the Tai Wo Town on the other side of the Lam Tsuen River, near the old Tai Po Market Station of the...
was named after him.