Pope Francis has announced his recognition of the Bishop of Shanghai who was appointed by Chinese officials in April without the Vatican's approval.
This move by China directly violated the historic agreement signed between the country and the Holy See in 2018. It was supposed to give the Pope a final say on the appointment of bishops.
Bishop Shen Bin was transferred from the closeby Diocese of Haimen to his new post as Bishop of Shanghai.
In a Vatican News interview, Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said Pope Francis wanted to “remedy the canonical irregularity created in Shanghai, for the greater good of the diocese.”
AT