Priest from northern China becomes first Catholic bishop ordained with blessing of Vatican and Beijing
- Antonio Yao Shun becomes bishop of Ulanqab in Inner Mongolia under deal agreed in September
- Vatican continues efforts to restore relations with China despite repression of faith on mainland
A Chinese Catholic bishop has been ordained with the approval of the Pope and Beijing for the first time under an agreement aimed at encouraging rapprochement between China and the Vatican.
China’s roughly 12 million Catholics have for decades been split between a government-run association, whose clergy were chosen by the Communist Party, and an underground church loyal to the Vatican.
Under the terms of the deal agreed in September, both authorities now have a say in the appointment of bishops.
China’s official church, the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, said Yao Shun was ordained as bishop of the diocese of Ulanqab in northern Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Monday.
The law in China requires priests and bishops to register and align with the country’s official church.
But the Vatican said the bishop, who it named as Antonio Yao Shun, had also “received the papal mandate” at the ordination, according to a statement by Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See’s press office.