Beijing's state-sanctioned Catholic diocese elects new Bishop

HONG KONG, July 18 Kyodo

Father Li Shan said Wednesday he has been elected as Catholic bishop in Beijing to replace the late Michael Fu.

Li has become the first bishop elected without papal approval since Pope Benedict XVI issued a letter to China last month warning against unapproved ordination, Li said Wednesday.

He told Kyodo News he was elected Monday, winning 74 of 93 votes in the election organized by the Beijing Diocese.

Li said he hopes relations between China and the Vatican will improve.

''(My appointment) should not be a problem as the election was done in accordance with the regulations of the China Catholic Bishop College and democratic procedures,'' Li said.

Li's appointment is being vetted by the Catholic Bishop College. He is expected to be ordained within three months after receiving the college's approval.

China cut diplomatic ties with the Vatican in 1951 shortly after the Communist Party took power.

Roman Catholics in China are divided into two groups with one worshipping in state-sanctioned churches and the other forming underground congregations.

Talks have been held between China and the Vatican on restoring ties, but with a major hurdle in the way -- namely China's demand the Vatican stays out of China's internal affairs, including ordaining bishops.

''My vision is to work hard toward developing church affairs in the Beijing Diocese. The current situations are good. I hope the Sino-Vatican relationship will improve,'' Li said.

The Pope released a 12,933-word letter and explanatory notes in different languages to followers in China last month, reiterating the illegitimacy of the College of Catholic Bishops of China that succumbed to interference, that bishop ordinations without papal approval in the past inflicted a ''painful wound'' and that the Holy See desired to be completely free to appoint bishops in China.

Fu, Li's predecessor, died of lung cancer in April.

He had not been recognized by the Vatican as a legitimate bishop because his ordination lacked papal approval.

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