The appointment of Mgr. Zhu Weifang was approved by the Holy See and recognized by the government. For Christmas he hopes for a "reconciliation" between official and "underground" Catholics. There are about 100 thousand Catholics In the diocese, many unofficial.

Wenzhou (AsiaNews) - 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.

 

Photo: UCAN (Z.Y.)

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