In a new development of the Agreement between China and the Holy See, even for the political authorities, the “underground” prelate long detained for refusing to join the Patriotic Association becomes the leader of the local Catholic community. Mgr. Celli had been able to meet him two years ago, giving him a pectoral cross on behalf of Francis. Today’s ceremony took place in a hotel and not in the cathedral to underline its civil and non-canonical character.
Tianjin () – Chinese authorities have officially recognised as bishop of the diocese of Tianjin – a metropolis in northern China – Mgr. Melchiorre Shi Honghzen, 94 years old, who until now was the “clandestine” bishop of a large diocese in which there had been no “official” bishop since 2005. The gesture – which is part of the Agreement between the Holy See and Beijing on the appointment of bishops – was announced this morning by the website chinacatholic.cn, spokesman for official Catholic bodies controlled by the Beijing government, and welcomed with a statement of its own at noon by the Vatican Press Office.
Monsignor Melchiorre Shi Honghzhen is the prelate with whom, after a long detention two years agoArchbishop Claudio Maria Celli – a Vatican diplomat who has been following the Chinese dossier for years – had been able to meet during the visit of the Holy See delegation to China with a view to renewing the agreement in October 2022. On that occasion, Monsignor Celli had also presented him with a pectoral cross on behalf of the Pope, with a clear reaffirmation of his episcopal dignity. “The Holy See – reads the Vatican statement released today – learns with satisfaction that Monsignor Melchiorre Shi Hongzhen is officially recognized as Bishop of Tianjin. This measure is a positive fruit of the dialogue established over the years between the Holy See and the Chinese Government.”
The recognition of Monsignor Melchiorre comes a few months after the Three new bishop appointments in January and the transfer to Hangzhou of one of the two Chinese bishops who participated in the work of the Synod in JuneIt also comes just weeks before a decision is made on how to renew the provisional agreement between Rome and Beijing, whose two-year term is set to expire at the end of October.
Originally from the same city of Tianjin, where he was born on October 7, 1929, ordained a priest in 1954, Monsignor Melchiorre Shi Honghzhen had been consecrated coadjutor bishop in 1982 with permission of the Holy See by Monsignor Stefano Li Sideanother courageous underground bishop who paid with prison and confinement for his defense of religious freedom in China, until his death at a mountain resort in 2019. Monsignor Melchior Shi Honghzhen also always refused to join the Patriotic Association, which is why until now he had never been recognized as a bishop by the Beijing authorities.
In its report, the chinacatholic.cn website speaks of an “installation” ceremony of the bishop of Tianjin in the presence of the bishop of Beijing, Mgr. Joseph Li Shan, “as president of the Patriotic Association and vice-president of the Council of Chinese Bishops” (a collegial body not officially recognized by the Holy See, ed.) and of a hundred people. It also hastened to report that “at the inauguration ceremony, Shi Hongzhen solemnly swore to abide by the National Constitution, to safeguard the unity of the homeland and social harmony, to love the country and the Church, and to always adhere to the direction of the sinicization of Catholicism in China.” It added that “by obeying the commandments of God, by fulfilling his duties as bishop well, by faithfully preaching the Gospel, together with the priests and faithful of the diocese of Tianjin, he contributes to the general construction of a modern socialist country and to the general promotion of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”
As for the real meaning to be given to these last words imbued with patriotic rhetoric, however, one fact speaks for itself: as the images themselves show, the ceremony did not take place in the historic church of San Giuseppe de Xikai – seat of the cathedral – but in a room in a hotel in the city. According to local sources, it was Monsignor Melchiorre himself who wanted this location, thus underlining the civil character of the ceremony, since canonically he was already bishop of Tianjin. In addition, he would have expressed his intention to continue living in the church of Zhongxin Qao, where he currently resides. All signs that speak not of a turning point, but of continuity with what he has represented all these years for the Catholic community of Tianjin.
Finally, it should be noted that Beijing’s recognition of Bishop Melchiorre Shi Honghzen finally heals a wound from the past. But the lack of communication of an agreement even on the appointment of a coadjutor bishop to flank the prelate, now 94 years old, leaves open the question of who will lead the Catholic Church in Tianjin in the future. A community that – as the Vatican note reports – today has “about 56,000 faithful, distributed in 21 parishes, served by 62 priests and a good number of nuns.”
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