China Ordains Bishop Loyal to Vatican

2nd Such Elevation in 4 Days Signals Thaw in Relations

BEIJING, Dec. 4 -- China on Tuesday ordained as a bishop a 43-year-old priest who has publicly declared his fidelity to the pope, four days after consecrating another Vatican-approved bishop.

The ordination of Joseph Gan Junqiu as bishop of the southern diocese of Guangzhou and Friday's promotion of Bishop Lu Shouwang in the central province of Hubei signal a defrosting of relations between Beijing and Rome, following a strained period last year, when three bishops were consecrated without the Vatican's approval.

Chinese officials denied that there had been advance consultation with Rome, insisting the promotions were China's choice, but experts said private and unofficial channels of communication have been opened. And Chinese officials have said they welcomed the Vatican's approval.

"The consecrations are good for Sino-Vatican relations," said Ren Yanli, a senior researcher with the Institute of World Religions at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, who was nevertheless cautious about predicting the state of future relations.

"A serious conflict between Beijing and the Vatican has been the appointment of bishops," Ren said. "Before, the Chinese Catholic Church always appointed bishops without the approval from Rome. Even last year, there were some appointed without the authority of the Vatican. But starting this year, China hasn't appointed any bishops without the approval of the Vatican."

Ren added: "So far, there is no conflict. The arrangement is accepted by both sides right now, and both sides want to weaken any conflict. But that doesn't mean that China will always select approved bishops in the future."

Lu Guocun, a vice chairman of the state-backed Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, said the Vatican's support was "really good news," the Associated Press reported. "We think that if the bishop that we choose can improve relations with the Vatican, then that's a good thing."

In Guangzhou on Tuesday, dozens of police officers used metal barricades to guard the Sacred Heart Cathedral, where only invited guests attended Gan's ordination, the AP reported. Gan, who has studied in Belgium and France, emerged after a 2 1/2 -hour ceremony that was closed to the news media and mingled with clergy and parishioners on the front steps of the church.

In Beijing, a Foreign Ministry spokesman discussed the desire to improve relations with Rome.

"China is willing to . . . conduct a constructive dialogue with the Vatican so as to explore ways to improve our relations," spokesman Qin Gang said. "We hope the Vatican could proceed from that picture of the better relations, take into consideration the history and the reality of the Chinese Catholic Church and record in a positive [way] the efforts of the Chinese church to promote the management of the churches."

The Communist Party officially cut ties with Rome in 1951. Of China's estimated 8 million to 12 million Catholics, some attend official state-sanctioned churches, while others worship at underground churches whose leaders answer only to the pope.