'Teacher of priests' Monsignor Jeong Ha-gwon dies at 99

Monsignor Floriano Jeong Ha-gwon has died at the age of 99 on Sunday. Courtesy of the Diocese of Masan

Monsignor Floriano Jeong Ha-gwon, a Catholic priest who helped train more than 700 seminarians to be priests and came to be known as a “teacher of priests,” has died. He was 99.

The Diocese of Masan announced on its official website the passing of Monsignor Floriano Jeong, who died at around 8 a.m. on Sunday.

In the Catholic Church, the title Monsignor is an honorary distinction granted by the Pope to priests who have rendered long and distinguished service, held important roles or made significant contributions to their diocese or the Vatican.

Born in 1927 in Gunwi County, North Gyeongsang Province, Jeong was ordained a priest in 1951 and began his ministry as pastor of Changnyeong Parish. He was also a classmate of the late Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan, with whom he was ordained in the same year.

He later studied philosophy and theology at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland and the University of Paris in France.

After returning to Korea in 1966, he resumed parish ministry while also beginning to teach at seminaries. From 1975, he served as a professor and dean at Gwangju Daegon Seminary (now Gwangju Catholic University), and from 1982, he continued his academic leadership at Daegu Catholic University. He also held numerous key positions, including deputy secretary general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea.

In 1987, he was named a monsignor by Pope John Paul II. After retiring in 1994, he continued pastoral work as a priest dedicated to administering the sacraments.

Over the course of his long ministry in priestly formation, Monsignor Jeong helped educate some 700 seminarians, earning him the nicknames “teacher of priests” and “father of priests.” During his years at the seminary, he taught 16 subjects, gaining a reputation as a “walking theological dictionary.”