Stephen Fumio Hamao

Quick Facts: Who was Stephen Fumio Hamao?

Subject:

Stephen Fumio Hamao

Known for:

Japanese Cardinal of the Catholic Church, known for his service in church administration and advocacy.

Born:

1930-03-09

Died:

2007-11-08

Century / Era:

1930s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Stephen Fumio Hamao (濱尾 文郎 Hamao Fumio) (9 March 1930 – 8 November 2007) was a Japanese cardinal of the Catholic Church and was the president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants until it merged with other elements of the Roman Curia. He was made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2003. Hamao was born in Tokyo, the third son of the Viscount Shirō Hamao (1896–1935), who was an adopted son of the Viscount Hamao Arata, the 8th President of University of Tokyo and the 11th Minister of Education. His family home housed both Shinto and Buddhist shrines, but his widowed mother converted to Catholicism in 1942, and he and his brother Minoru were baptised in 1946. He studied at Hitotsubashi University and then joined a seminary.

Career & Major Achievements

After further study at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, he was ordained as a priest on 21 December 1957. After his ordination, he returned to Tokyo, where he served as secretary to the cardinal archbishop, secretary of the archdiocesan liturgical commission and, finally, parish priest of the cathedral. Hamao was on the hijacked Japan Airlines Flight 351 as a passenger in 1970. He was appointed titular bishop of Oreto and auxiliary bishop of Tokyo on 5 February 1970, and was consecrated on 29 April 1970. He was named Bishop of Yokohama on 30 October 1979, a post he held for almost 20 years until he resigned on 15 June 1998 to become President of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He was made an Archbishop at the same time. He was also head of the regional branch of the charity Caritas, and became president of the Japanese Episcopal Conference in 1995. He was elevated to the College of Cardinals on 21 October 2003 by Pope John Paul II, holding the title of Cardinal Deacon of St. John Bosco in Via Tuscolana. The same year, he had called for a Third Vatican Council to deal with the question of local church authority. He was one of the cardinal electors in the 2005 papal conclave that selected Pope Benedict XVI.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1896: 1896 Milestone — Hamao was born in Tokyo, the third son of the Viscount Shirō Hamao (1896–1935), who was an adopted son of the Viscount Hamao Arata, the 8th President of University of Tokyo and the 11th Minister of Education.
2. 1930 (1930-03-09): Birth of Stephen Fumio Hamao — Japanese Cardinal of the Catholic Church, known for his service in church administration and advocacy.
3. 1942: 1942 Milestone — His family home housed both Shinto and Buddhist shrines, but his widowed mother converted to Catholicism in 1942, and he and his brother Minoru were baptised in 1946.
4. 1957: 1957 Milestone — After further study at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, he was ordained as a priest on 21 December 1957.
5. 1970: 1970 Milestone — Hamao was on the hijacked Japan Airlines Flight 351 as a passenger in 1970.
6. 1979: 1979 Milestone — He was named Bishop of Yokohama on 30 October 1979, a post he held for almost 20 years until he resigned on 15 June 1998 to become President of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants.
7. 1995: 1995 Milestone — He was also head of the regional branch of the charity Caritas, and became president of the Japanese Episcopal Conference in 1995.
8. 2003: 2003 Milestone — He was made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2003.
9. 2005: 2005 Milestone — He was one of the cardinal electors in the 2005 papal conclave that selected Pope Benedict XVI.
10. 2007 (2007-11-08): Passing & Historical Legacy — Stephen Fumio Hamao passed away on 2007-11-08, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Stephen Fumio Hamao

True or False: “Cardinal Hamao was instrumental in advocating for greater representation of Asians within the Roman Curia.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): He specifically urged Pope Benedict XVI to appoint more Asians to positions of power within the Vatican's administrative bodies.

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