In a surprising development from the Vatican yesterday, a statement was released revealing that Chinese authorities had violated the terms stipulated in the provisional agreement between the Chinese Communist Party and the Holy See on the appointment of bishops.
The Vatican statement comes in response to the installation of Bishop John Peng Weizhao as an “auxiliary bishop of Jiangxi”, a diocese that is not even recognised by the Vatican.
The Vatican only recently renewed the controversial Sino-Vatican pact despite numerous problems and concerns, which included the banning of under 18s from Mass and bishops being forced to swear allegiance to the supremacy of Communist Party doctrine and authority over the Church's teachings and her hierarchy.
