VATICAN CITY — The Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI is “deeply saddened” by the ordination of a bishop in China without his approval, the latest unilateral act by China’s state-controlled Catholic church in its standoff with Rome.
The Vatican in a toughly worded communique Monday said the ordination of the Rev. Paul Lei Shiyin in the diocese of Leshan on June 29 was considered illegitimate, sows divisions and “unfortunately produces rifts and tensions” in the Catholic community.
China forced its Roman Catholics to cut ties with the Vatican in 1951. Worship is allowed only in state-backed churches, although millions of Chinese belong to unofficial congregations loyal to the pope.
An agreement under which the Vatican was given an opportunity to give its tacit approval on new bishops broke down last year.
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