China names two new bishops—without papal approval
April 30, 2025
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CWN Editor's Note: Chinese authorities have announced the “election” of two new Catholic bishops, without waiting for papal approval.
Under the terms of the secret Vatican accord with Beijing on the naming of bishops, as commonly understood, the government-backed Patriotic Catholic Association proposes candidates, to be approved by the Roman Pontiff. But in violation of that understanding, the Patriotic Association announced the election of Father Li Janlin as Bishop of Xinxiang, and Father Wu Jianlin as auxiliary bishop in Shanghai. In each case, AsiaNews reports, the newly elected bishop was the only candidate presented to the voters, who included religious lay people.
The Chinese authorities’ disregard for the agreement with Rome could have an impact on the papal election, since Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State, who has been a strong public defender of the accord, is regarded as a leading candidate to succeed Pope Francis.
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Posted by: feedback -
Apr. 30, 2025 5:32 PM ET USA
Ironically, this move might inspire the Cardinals to elect a Pope who will end the secret "deal." For all the praises we heard about Vatican II, the secret deal with the Chinese Communist Party violates the 1965 Decree Christus Dominus, which states: (19) "bishops per se enjoy full and perfect freedom and independence from any civil authority", and (20) "the right of nominating and appointing bishops belongs properly, peculiarly, and per se exclusively to the competent ecclesiastical authority."
