10,000 Chinese Catholics join in ceremony as 'underground' bishop opens Holy Door

December 15, 2015

An estimated 10,000 Chinese Catholics, led by a bishop of the “underground” Church, participated in the ceremonial opening of the Holy Door in the cathedral of Zhengding, the AsiaNews service reports.

Although police were present at the cathedral, they did not disrupt the ceremony or discourage participation, AsiaNews reports. “It’s a miracle!” local Catholics said, since authorities routinely take steps to prevent public ceremonies led by leaders of the “underground” Church.

Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo of Zhengding has been living under house arrest since 2010, when he was released from prison. His movements are closely monitored, and he is periodically taken into custody for “education” programs in which he is pressed to join the government-backed Catholic Patriotic Association.

 

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Further information:

• A "miracle" at the Holy Door in Zhengding: 10,000 underground Catholics celebrate the Jubilee without arrests (AsiaNews)