Peter Lieou was a Chinese Catholic layman and catechist who lived in Guizhou during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. After converting to Christianity, he dedicated his life to missionary work and teaching the faith. Despite facing exile to Mongolia in 1814 due to his religious activities, he returned to his homeland in 1827 to continue his ministry alongside Catholic missionaries. His commitment to preaching led to his eventual arrest during a period of renewed persecution in China.
Life and death
Born in 1760, Lieou was a married man who served as a catechist. Following a period of exile, he resumed his religious duties upon his return. While ministering to those in confinement, he was apprehended by the authorities. He was eventually executed in Guiyang through strangulation on May 17, 1834, an event that occurred while his sons were also imprisoned.
Veneration
Lieou is recognized as a saint in the Catholic Church. He was first declared a martyr by Pope Leo XIII in 1899 and was subsequently beatified in 1900. His path to sainthood concluded on October 1, 2000, when Pope John Paul II canonized him. His feast day is observed annually on May 17.