The Chinese government’s installation of an auxiliary bishop in a diocese was not recognized by the Holy See and the Vatican regretted and rejected this through an official statement.
The Holy See requested that “similar episodes not be repeated” because this action by the Chinese government was not carried out in the provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops signed in 2018.
The Holy See received “with surprise and regret” the news of the “installation ceremony” of Bishop John Peng Weizhao, Bishop of Yujiang (Jiangxi Province), as “auxiliary bishop of Jiangxi”, because it is ” a diocese not recognized by the Holy See”.
Therefore, the Holy See indicated that “this event did not take place in accordance with the spirit of dialogue between the Vatican and the Chinese parties and what is stipulated in the Provisional Agreement on the Appointment of Bishops of September 22, 2018. ”
In addition, the Vatican note warned that “Bishop Peng’s civil recognition would have been preceded by long and strong pressure from local authorities.”
The Holy See “hopes that such episodes will not be repeated, awaits the appropriate communications from the Authorities in this regard.”
Finally, the Holy See reaffirmed “its full willingness to continue the respectful dialogue on all issues of common interest.”