Jian Mei

Official and underground bishops emphasised unity with the Pope and the universal Church. In many parishes, adoration was held in conjunction with the St Peter's Basilica from 11 pm to midnight (Beijing time). In the countryside, given the difficulties of transport, the event was held in daylight hours. Everyone prayed for Pope Francis's intentions.

Placed under house arrest, the auxiliary bishop of Shanghai interacts with the faithful through the social network Weibo and his blog. Across the country, Catholics organize charitable activities and prayer vigils.

In the affected area at least 6 thousand of 10 thousand Catholics have lost their homes, farms, crops. Three churches were completely destroyed, with many others seriously damaged. The Chengdu regional seminary also damaged. Some churches destroyed in the 2008 earthquake had not yet been rebuilt. Card. Tong launches appeals for prayer and to raise funds to be donated by Caritas Hong Kong. Many people, disgusted by the corruption of the Chinese government prefer direct donations through NGOs working in Sichuan.

Making compromises with China's atheistic Communist authorities weakens the Church and leads to chaos among the faithful. The members of the Chinese Church should quit politics and positions of privilege. The new pope's simple lifestyle should be an incentive to renew the training and moral life of priests and nuns in China. "We are like a feeble limb of Jesus Christ."

The bishop of Shantou appointed to the NPC; bishops of Kunmin, Mindong, Leshan made members of the Consultative Conference. All of them are illegitimately ordained, and two are officially excommunicated. Three other bishops included in political bodies for first time, they presided or participated in ordinations without the mandate of the Holy See.

Appointments and transfers of parish priests blocked. Forced resignation of Fr. Shen Guoan, administrator of the diocese. He had refused to be ordained bishop without papal mandate. It is feared that the government is preparing a new illicit episcopal ordination

Bishop John Chen, who died at 96 years of age, spent several years in prison. During the Cultural Revolution he worked as a farmer. Rehabilitated, he resumed relations with the Holy See and became a major formator of priests and nuns.

The auxiliary bishop of Shanghai jokes about it on his blog, describing centipede bites and laughter with fellow priests and seminarians at Sheshan. Under virtual house arrest, the prelate cannot perform his ministry after he quit the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association on the day of his ordination. His parishioners show they are with him.

The church - which can hold 100 people - had been rebuilt after its destruction under Mao. Suspicions point to construction companies who want to seize the village land. Local authorities indifferent to complaints.

The brave auxiliary bishop of Shanghai, forced to live in the seminary next to the Marian shrine of Sheshan after he publically resigned from the Patriotic Association, continues to communicate through his blog. An operetta to commemorate Paul Xu Guangqi, founder of the diocese of Shanghai, and many reflections on the greatness of God

In his first message, Mgr Ma Daqin posts a picture and five poems by a Jesuit priest. The texts betray the prelate's sorrow, solitude and sadness. Since 7 July, he has been forced to stay in the Sheshan Seminary. Chinese and foreign Catholics have responded to his postings with words of consolation and prayers.

The official website of the Patriotic Association and bishops council today released a statement, countersigned by "a spokesperson", accusing "the bishop's ordination activities" of "gravely" violating the regulation on episcopal ordinations. In Harbin, AsiaNews sources report "difficulties" for two priests of the official Church who opposed the ordination of July 6.