The Vatican has called on the Chinese authorities to respect “the norms of the Catholic Church” at the ordination of Father Peter Luo Xuegang as coadjutor-bishop of Yibin diocese, southwestern China, on November 30.
In particular, it asks that the faithful be informed that he has the pope’s approval, and that no illegitimate bishop participates in the ceremony.
Father Federico Lombardi, the Director of the Vatican Press Office, made the Holy See’s position clear Monday afternoon, November 28, when asked by journalists if he could confirm that Father Lou would be ordained bishop on the said date.
He said he had “seen this news circulating in the media”. This suggests that China has not officially informed the Vatican that the ordination was about to take place.
UCA News reports that the ordination will take place in the century-old St. Mary’s Church, in the city of Yibin, Sichuan Province, south-western China, and that the 95 year-old bishop of Yibin diocese, John Chen Shizhong, - recognized by both Rome and Beijing - will ordain Father Lou as his coadjutor (and so his successor as head of the diocese) on the date mentioned.
“If that were to happen”, Lombardi said, “It would be a candidate that is approved by the Holy See.” This was the first public confirmation by the Vatican that Father Lou has the papal mandate.
Then, going to the main purpose of his comment and using words that sought to convey clearly the Vatican’s position without appearing to dictate, Lombardi said: “Obviously, I hope that if the ordination takes place the norms of the Catholic Church will be respected, namely that the faithful are informed about the approval of the candidate by the Holy See, and that no illegitimate bishop participates in the liturgical ceremony.”.
If those norms were respected, Lombardi added, “The event would be an encouragement for the Catholic community.”
The Vatican’s statement came in the wake of news that the excommunicated bishop of Leshan, Paul Lei Shiyin, would participate in the ordination ceremony. Ordained on June 29 without the pope’s approval, the Holy See on July 4 declared that he had incurred excommunication. Consequently, he is prohibited by Church law from participating as a bishop in the liturgical ceremony.
Lei Shiyin is the Chairman of the Catholic Patriotic Association in Sichuan province and, obviously not wishing to lose face, confirmed that he had received an invitation to the ordination ceremony and will attend. But, he added, he did not know if he would serve as a co-consecrating bishop, UCA News reported on 28 November.
News of Lei’s intended participation sparked much discussion and debate in Catholics blogs and websites in mainland China, and many hoped the Vatican would clarify its position before the event. Fr. Lombardi’s statement does just that.