The Pope has approved a new bishop for a troubled Chinese diocese, but in doing so highlights the discrepancy underway given that bishops are being secretly consecrated for the Underground Church.
On August 31, news was shared by the Holy See Press Office of another bishop having received approval from Pope Leo and subsequent consecration from the Chinese state-approved church. Father Paul Liu Honggang was made bishop of the Diocese of Datong, located in China’s Shanxi central-north province.
According to the Vatican, Pope Leo had made the appointment one August 10 and approved his candidacy under the terms of the Sino-Vatican deal, first signed in 2018 and most recently renewed in 2024 for a four year term.
