Illicit Chinese bishop ordains priests on day of Pope's inaugural Mass
March 20, 2013
A Chinese bishop who was ordained without authorization from the Holy See--and is therefore subject to excommunication-- ordained two priests on March 19, the same date as the inaugural Mass beginning the formal ministry of Pope Francis.
Bishop Joseph Ma Yinglin of Kunming led prayers for the new Pontiff at the ordination ceremony, praying particularly that the Pope could restore unity within the Church. A spokesman said that the ordinations had been planned several months ago, and the date could not be changed.
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