BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD

Roman Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Francis kneecaps a few more faithful Christians.

Msgr. Vincent Guo Xijin, an underground bishop of Mindong, recognized by the Vatican, but not by the government and to date ordinary bishop of the diocese, will leave his ordinary post and give it to Msgr. Vincenzo Zhan Silu, recognized by the government, and one of the seven formerly excommunicated bishops whom Pope Francis has re-admitted to communion.

Msgr. Celli presented a letter signed by card. Pietro Parolin, secretary of state, and by card. Fernando Filoni, prefect of Propaganda Fide to Msgr. Guo in which they asked the underground bishop to cede his role as ordinary to Msgr. Zhan. Also according to the report of the priests of Mindong, Msgr. Celli would have told Msgr. Guo that Pope Francis himself asks for this gesture of obedience "and of sacrifice for the general situation of the Chinese Church".

At the meeting in Beijing, Msgr. Celli also announced that the underground bishop of Shantou, Msgr. Pietro Zhuang Jianjian will give way to the official bishop Giuseppe Huang Bingzhang, also recently reconciled with the Holy See.

In any case, the decision to give the ordinary position to the two official bishops, much appreciated by the government, seems to have been already made a year ago, on another trip to Beijing by Msgr. Celli. On that occasion, Msgr. Celli would have explained to Msgr. Guo that the Pope himself demanded this step back "because otherwise the [sino-vatican] agreement cannot be signed". The Pope feared that without the agreement - on episcopal appointments - the Chinese Church would be invaded by dozens of illegitimate bishops,  with serious consequences for Church unity.