Hong Kong's Father Benedict Chao, World's Oldest Trappist Monk, Dead at 108
The 108-year-old monk was the world’s oldest Trappist religious and a survivor of Chinese communist persecution, the diocese said.
- Trappist Father Benedict Chao, the world's oldest Trappist monk, died July 31, 2026, at 108 years old at the Abbey of Our Lady of Joy on Lantau Island, Hong Kong, the Diocese announced.
- Ordained in 1949 during the Chinese Communist revolution, Father Chao survived persecution when monks were forced to leave the monastery, facing deportation and violence across China.
- After fleeing to Canada and Utah, Father Chao and his fellow monks eventually reestablished the Abbey of Our Lady of Joy on Lantau Island. He took monastic vows 79 years ago and served as a priest for 77 years.
- His funeral is scheduled for tomorrow, Aug 14. With his death, Sister Sebastiana Yamaguchi Teruko of the Imari Abbey in Japan is now the oldest Trappist religious in the world at 107 years old.
- The Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance maintains a legacy of longevity within its ranks. In addition to Sister Sebastiana, the Order lists three other centenarian members, all 103 years old.
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Catholic Review
Hong Kong's Father Benedict Chao, world's oldest Trappist monk, dead at 108
(OSV News) — The Diocese of Hong Kong announced the death of Trappist Father Benedict Chao, who, prior to his death at 108 years old, was the oldest Trappist monk in the world. According to a report by Asia News published Aug. 9, the diocese said Father Chao passed away July 31 at the Abbey of Our Lady of Joy, the monastery where he lived on Lantau Island, Hong Kong. With his death, Sister Sebastiana Yamaguchi Teruko of the Imari Abbey in Japan …
Catholic World Report
ewtnnews.comLast Chinese Trappist monk to survive Maoist persecution dies at 108
Father Benedict Chau survived the period of communist persecution by Mao Zedong and ended his days at the reestablsihed monastery of Our Lady of Joy on Lantau Island, Hong Kong. [...]
Father Benedict Chao, World’s Oldest Trappist Monk, Dead at 108
Trappist Father Benedict Chao is pictured in an undated photo. Father Chao, who at age 108 was the oldest Trappist monk in the world, died on July 31, 2026, at the Abbey of Our Lady of Joy on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island. According to the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, he took monastic vows 79 years ago and was a priest for 77 years a priest when the Lord called him home. (Photo: OSV News/Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observanc…
The oldest monk in the world died in Hong Kong, leaving behind him a legacy that survived the 1947 "March of Death" and the destruction of...
Father Benedict Chao, the last survivor of the trapist community persecuted by Mao Tse-tung in China, died at 108 years in Hong Kong after 79 years of monastic life.
Hong Kong's Fr. Benedict Chao, World's Oldest Trappist Monk, Dead at 108 - The Good Newsroom
Hong Kong's Fr. Benedict Chao, World's Oldest Trappist Monk, Dead at 108 Local, Parish Updates | 08/12/2026 By: OSV News The Cistercian monk survived Chinese communist persecution and helped rebuild a monastery in Hong Kong after decades in exile Trappist Father Benedict Chao is pictured in an undated photo. Father Chao, who at age…
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