HONG KONG (SE): Father Francesco Conte of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions [PIME], passed away on October 3. He was the chaplain of St. Joseph Old People’s Home in Sheung Shui.
Born and baptised in 1938 at Piove di Sacco, Padua, Italy, Father Conte joined PIME in 1949. After studying philosophy and theology, he was ordained a missionary priest on 14 March 1964. From 1964 to 1968 he worked as vocational animator and vice rector of the seminary at St. Ilario, Genoa. Then, he was assigned to the mission in Warangal, India. For this intent, he attended a course in leprology at Fontilles, in Spain, and studied English in England residing in Waltham Cross parish. Since he could not get a visa for India, he was reassigned to Hong Kong, where he arrived on 14 January 1971.
After studying the Chinese language and during the first apostolate, he suffered a cerebral haemorrhage that forced him to return to Italy for a surgical operation and rest. Returning to Hong Kong in 1973, he did pastoral work in San Po Kong and Homantin. After his vacation in 1978, he was kept in Italy to work as rector of PIME House in Milan until 1984.
Returning to Hong Kong, after refreshing his Cantonese, he worked in Tsuen Wan from 1986 to 1987 and then in Chai Wan Kok, until 1998 where he took good care of the construction of the modern and beautiful Church of the Annunciation.
In October 1999 he was assigned to Ma On Shan parish where he worked for about 10 years, then to St. Benedict Parish and, in 2011, to Fanling until September 2020, when he was appointed chaplain of St. Joseph Old People’s Home in Sheung Shui.
On September 23, he fell in a corridor, badly hurting his arm. He recovered and, almost at the end of his physiotherapy, close to midday on October 3 his blood pressure suddenly dropped; he was brought to intensive care but to no avail. The heavenly Father called him to eternal rest.
Father Conte had a friendly and open personality. He showed a deep concern for the evangelisation and the apostolic ministry. His zeal and strong personality made him at times quite outspoken. In every parish where he worked, he took great care to provide all services to the community, particularly the preparation for baptism of catechumens.
He made good use of electronic devices to improve liturgical teaching and the exchange of information. He also paid special attention to minority groups, especially to the Filipino Catholics, for whom he introduced English Mass and special activities in the various parishes.
