The Chinese mainland Diocese of Xinxiang has “elected” a local priest to become its new bishop, it was announced yesterday, despite the death of Pope Francis on April 21 and the current period of sede vacante in the Church.
Local priest Fr. Li Janlin was “elected” as the sole candidate for the office of diocesan bishop on April 29, in a move coordinated by the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, the state-sponsored group under the Communist Party responsible for the regulation of Catholic clergy and practice on the mainland.
