The Vatican announced on Tuesday that the Chinese government has acknowledged the authority of Melchior Shi Hongzhen, the Catholic bishop of Tianjin, who was previously under house arrest for declining to join the state-supported church structure in China.
"This marks a constructive outcome of the ongoing dialogue between the Holy See and the Chinese government," stated the Vatican. In 2018, the Vatican and the Beijing government reached a significant agreement, renewed in 2022, concerning the appointment of Catholic bishops in China. This agreement allows Chinese officials to have a say in the selection of bishops appointed by Pope Francis, aiming to reduce tensions between the underground Catholic community loyal to the pope and the state-backed church.
Bishop Shi, aged 94, has been the bishop of Tianjin since 2019. He was ordained in 1982 and had previously resisted joining the state church. According to AsiaNews, Shi participated in an inauguration ceremony on Tuesday, signifying his official recognition by the government. The ceremony was held in a hotel instead of a church to emphasize that Shi was already ordained as a bishop many years ago.
The Vatican and Beijing are expected to discuss the renewal of their agreement on bishop appointments this autumn. In May, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's top diplomat, expressed the church's hope for the agreement's renewal.
