Bishop Vincent Zhan Silu celebrated Mass for 500 Catholics and officials in a church in southern Ningde city to mark his formal appointment as head of the Mindong Diocese in southern Fujian province.

The welcoming ceremony, however, compounded deteriorating relations between the Vatican and a separate Chinese church set up by the Communist government half a century ago.

In recent weeks, China's state-approved Catholic hierarchy ordained two bishops without papal assent, drawing a threat of excommunication from the Vatican.

The Japan Times Weekly: May 20, 2006
(C) All rights reserved