The 83-year-old Bishop Zhu
Weifang of Wenzhou has been installed this morning, Dec. 23, as bishop
of Wenzhou, Zhejiang province.
The new bishop explained to AsiaNews that he was
ordained two years ago.
He has been approved by the Holy See and
recognized by Chinese government.
He also invited “underground”
Catholics from Wenzhou diocese to attend the liturgy.
Mgr. Zhu said his Christmas wish is “to have communion and
unity among Catholics in the diocese, reconciling between open Church
and underground communities.”
Local sources said the installation was arranged by the government, and many government officials came to the ceremony.
There are 29 priests, 40 nuns in the official Church, while the
whole diocese has a Catholic population of 110,000, according to Mgr.
Zhu.
Born in 1927, Mgr. Zhu, was ordained a priest in 1954.
Coadjutor Bishop Shao Zhumin of Wenzhou leads the underground community.
SIC: AN/INT'L