Beijing (AsiaNews) – “I wish to thank the Pope,” Mgr Joseph Li Shan said in his first public statement after his ordination as the new archbishop of Beijing in the ancient Saint-Saviour (Bei Tang) Church. Monsignor Li began this way his ministry, promising to visit each and every parish, meeting the faithful in the diocese of 50,000.

The bishop, who was ordained last Friday in a ceremony attended by government and Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCAP) officials, received Vatican approval ahead of time. Another confirmation was published in an article in the Osservatore Romano a few hours after the function.

The prelate’s few words of thanks to the Pontiff cleared the air of any doubts that might have lingered about the ordination’s legitimacy.

The Vatican had kept silence until the end whilst CCPA Deputy Chairman Liu Bainian claimed the appointment for his organisation and the Chinese Bishops’ Council.

Many members of the official and underground Church were disappointed by the Vatican’s concerns, its silence till after the ordination and its decision to publish an article instead of an official statement.

Unlike the letter the Pope wrote to Chinese Catholics in late June, many believe that this attitude runs the risk of creating confusion among the faithful.

In his letter Benedict XVI had called upon bishops recognised by the Holy See to bring their recognition “into the public domain” and had urged “legitimized Bishops [to] provide unequivocal and increasing signs of full communion with the Successor of Peter.”

For some of the faithful who took part in yesterday’s celebration in Bei Tang, the atmosphere was without a doubt much better, “more religious” compared to that of the ordination, which some said was more like a “party celebration” with tight security details, ban on photos and on getting too close to the newly-ordained bishop.

In his homily Monsignor Li commented the Gospel, stressing the fact that one “cannot serve God and Mammon, God and money, the life of faith and that of society.”

He also called attention to the urgency for all Beijing Catholics to live the mission with an eye on their environments since Chinese society is seeking spiritual values.

The bishop called on everyone, priest and laity, to join together for this task.

After 30 years under CCPA bishop Fu Tieshan the faithful and clergy are divided in the diocese since many priests are too closely associated with the CCPA.

At the same time the CCPA has left the diocese in dire straights, seizing its buildings and land to sell for its own profit.

Photo: AsiaNews