Cardinal Parolin's Fault: China appoints two bishops during papal interregnum
And: Vicar General Wu Jianlin was elected auxiliary bishop of Shanghai on April 28.
The appointments were coordinated by the Chinese Communists' state sect, the Patriotic Catholic Association. "Election" means that some representatives ratify one given candidate.
Since the Holy See is currently vacant, the Vatican cannot recognize or ratify any appointments.
Further: The diocese of Xinxiang has a bishop, Monsignor Joseph Zhang Weizhu, 67. He was appointed by Pope John Paul II in 1991. Monsignor Zhang has led the diocese for decades as an "underground bishop," unrecognized by the government.
The announcements underscore China's policy of not recognizing any outside authority, including the Holy See, in the organization of religions in China.
The secret so-called "agreement" of 2018 - that was renewed in 2020, 2022 and 2024 - is essentially the work of Cardinal Pietro Parolin. It has shown that he has completely failed in his core competence: diplomacy.
Communist Party officials have regularly moved to install bishops in several dioceses without the approval of the Holy See. In some cases, the Vatican has announced its recognition retrospectively.
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