The Vatican has expressed “surprise and regret” at the installation of Chinese Bishop Peng Weizhao as auxiliary of Jiangxi, a diocese not recognised by the Holy See.
Bishop Weizhao was arrested by the Chinese Communist Party after secret ordination in 2014. At his installation on Thursday last week in Nanchang he pledged to “guide Catholicism to adapt to socialist society”.
The boundaries of his new diocese were drawn up by the Chinese authorities without consultation with Rome.
In 2014 Pope Francis appointed John Peng Weizhao as Bishop of Yujiang. He succeeded Bishop Thomas Zeng Jingmu, head of the local underground church, who spent 23 years in prison and died in 2016 aged 96.
As an underground prelate, Bishop Peng Weizhao was held for six months by Chinese authorities. After his release in November 2014 he was severely restricted in his ministry by the authorities.
Beijing redraws diocesan boundaries and installs bishop
Beijing redraws diocesan boundaries and installs bishop
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