"Vatican's Rapid Appointment of Chinese Bishops Indicates Strengthening Ties with Beijing"

The Vatican has appointed Father Peter Wu Yishun as the bishop of the Apostolic Prefecture of Shaowu in China, marking the third bishop appointment in the country in less than a week. These appointments signal a shift toward Beijing and a rapprochement in Sino-Vatican relations, following recent unauthorized bishop appointments by Chinese authorities. The appointments are made within the framework of the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China, and come amid ongoing efforts to promote pastoral care and attend to the spiritual well-being of the Catholic community in China.