Jan. 18, 2007 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI has approved the ordination of a new bishop in China, the South China Morning Post reports.
The Holy Father reportedly gave his assent to the appointment of Father Gan Junqiu to head the Guangzhou diocese. The papal approval came after “a very thorough investigation” of the nominee, a Vatican official told the South China Morning Post.
The willingness of Chinese officials to obtain papal approval for the bishop’s ordination apparently signals a step forward in relations between Beijing and Rome. During the past year three bishops were installed without the consent of the Holy See, provoking angry denunciations from the Vatican.
Pope Benedict has convened a special meeting of Church leaders this weekend to discuss the crisis created by those illicit ordinations.
