The illicit episcopal consecration of Father Joseph Wu Jianlin in Shanghai has been set for 15 October, in a move that appears to signal the collapse of the Vatican’s fragile understanding with Beijing over the appointment of bishops.
Father Wu, who currently serves as auxiliary bishop of Shanghai, was appointed by the state-controlled Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association on 29 April, eight days after the death of Pope Francis.
Due to the passing of the late Pope Francis, the papal see was vacant, and the appointment was therefore never recognised by the Holy See. The decision to proceed with his ordination during the interregnum, and without papal approval, represents a direct violation of the Vatican-China deal and canon 1382, which forbids the consecration of bishops without a pontifical mandate.
