Vatican City, Sep 22, 2018 / 05:22 am
After the signing Saturday of a provisional Vatican-China deal on the nomination of bishops, the Vatican announced Pope Francis' recognition of seven illicitly ordained Chinese bishops.
The decision was made "with a view to sustaining the proclamation of the Gospel in China," according to a Sept. 22 Vatican press brief.
Those bishops who will now be admitted to full communion with the Church are Bishop Joseph Guo Jincai of Rehe; Bishop Joseph Huang Bingzhang of Shantou; Bishop Paul Lei Shiyin of Jiading; Bishop Joseph Liu Xinhong of Wuhu; Metropolitan Archishop Joseph Ma Yinglin of Kunming; Bishop Joseph Yue Fusheng, apostolic administrator of Harbin; and Bishop Vincent Zhan Silu of Funing.
The pope also recognized Bishop Anthony Tu Shihua, who died on Jan. 4, 2017, but, according to the press release, "had expressed the desire to be reconciled with the Apostolic See" before his death.