Two Chinese bishops recognised by Vatican ordained on the mainland
Ceremonies in Sichuan and Shanxi provinces a sign of improving ties between Beijing and Catholic Church
Two Chinese bishops recognised by the Holy See were ordained on the mainland on Wednesday, the latest sign of improving ties between Beijing and the Vatican after years of hostility.
Father Joseph Tang Yuange, 53, was ordained as bishop reportedly amid a heavy police presence at Pinganqiao Cathedral in Chengdu, Sichuan province during the feast of St Andrew. Journalists were not allowed to enter.
Also yesterday, Father Wang Xiaoxun was ordained as coadjutor bishop in the Ankang diocese in Shanxi province.
“I see the compassion, tolerance and great love of the church and the understanding of the Holy See towards the churches in China,” Tang was quoted as saying by the Union of Catholic Asian News. Tang added he planned to organise more training sessions on spiritual studies.
The ceremony was chaired by Bishop Fang Xingyao, chairman of the Communist Party-controlled Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, in the presence of Fathers Luo Xuegang from the Yibin diocese, He Zeqing of the Wanzhou diocese in Chongqing, Chen Gongao of Nanchong in Jiangxi and Xiao Zejiang of Guiyang in Guizhou province, who are all jointly recognised by the Holy See and Beijing.
An excommunicated bishop, Lei Shiyin of Leshan in Sichuan, also made his way into the ordination, the report said.