Vatican expresses "surprise and regret" at the installation of the Auxiliary Bishop of Jiangxi

In a press release on Saturday Morning, the Vatican expressed "surprise and regret" at the installation of the Auxiliary Bishop of Jiangxi, a diocese that is not yet officially recognized by the Holy See.

The statement read that the Vatican was surprised and regretted the news of the “installation ceremony” on November 24 in Nanchang of Bishop Giovanni Pen Weizhao of Yujiang (Jiangxi Province) as an Auxiliary Bishop of Jiangxi, a diocese not yet recognized by the Vatican.

The Vatican said that this event "has not taken place in conformity with the spirit of dialogue that exists between the Vatican parties and the Chinese parties and what has been stipulated in the Provisional Agreement on the Appointment of Bishops of 22 September 2018."

The press statement also notes that according to reports received, "the civil recognition of Bishop Peng was preceded...by prolonged and intense pressure by the local Authorities." 

In awaiting "appropriate communication about the matter from the Authorities," the statement concludes by expressing the Holy See's hopes that "similar episodes will not be repeated" and "reaffirms its complete willingness to continue the respectful dialogue concerning all of the matters of common interest."

The Provisional Agreement had originally been signed by representatives of the Holy See and the People's Republic of China on September 22, 2018. The Agreement provided for a two-year period of application ad experimentum. In October 2020, the validity of the agreement was extended for another two years, and again on October 22, 2022, it was renewed for another two years.

Full text of Holy See Press Office Statement

It was with surprise and regret that the Holy See learned of the news of the “installation ceremony” that took place on  November 24 in Nanchang, of H.E. Bishop Giovanni Peng Weizhao, Bishop of Yujiang (Jiangxi Province), as “Auxiliary Bishop of Jiangxi", a diocese not recognized by the Holy See.

Such an event, in fact, has not taken place in conformity with the spirit of dialogue that exists between the Vatican parties and the Chinese parties and what has been stipulated in the Provisional Agreement on the Appointment of Bishops of  September 22, 2018.

In addition, the civil recognition of Bishop Peng was preceded, according to reports received, by prolonged and intense pressure from the local Authorities.

The Holy See hopes that similar episodes will not be repeated, is awaiting the appropriate communication about the matter from the Authorities and reaffirms its complete willingness to continue the respectful dialogue concerning all of the matters of common interest.

Working translation from Italian - Vatican News