For the previous three episcopal appointments in China, the regime publicly announced the election of the bishop-designate before the Holy See. In today's case, no comparable notice about the Chinese selection process has been released.
Underground Bishop chose recognition
The Diocese of Bameng (40,000 Catholics, 30 priests, 20 religious sisters) is not vacant.
The current bishop, Matthew Du Jiang, is only 63 years old. He was consecrated for the Catholic underground Church in 2004 and officially recognized by the Chinese authorities as bishop in 2010. As part of the recognition process, he was required to participate in an installation ceremony concelebrated with Bishop Ma Yinglin of Kunming, then a leading figure in the Chinese state church. The ceremony caused considerable unease among priests and faithful belonging to the local underground Catholic communities.
Reports claim that Bishop Du Jiang himself requested the appointment of a coadjutor because of "health considerations".
Footman of the State Church
The new Bishop Duan Yongkun was born on December 6, 1980, in Hangjin Houqi, Inner Mongolia.
From 2000 to 2007, he studied at the Hebei Theological Seminary of the Chinese state church.
From 2008 to 2013, he pursued further studies at Peking University and Beijing Foreign Studies University, and from 2013 to 2016 in Taiwan.
Studying in Taiwan strongly suggests that he had official approval to travel and was already trusted by the Chinese state church.
On January 1, 2011 - one year after the controversial state recognition of Bishop Du Jiang - he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Bameng.
Upon returning to his diocese (2016), he served as director of the local formation center and subsequently as Vicar General of the Diocese of Bameng.
Regime Ceremony
Today's consecration was presided over by Bishop Meng Qinglu, Vice President of the Chinese state church. Several state bishops and 350 faithful attended the consecration.
The Chinese authorities' statement emphasizes that Duan Yongkun is originally from Xian County in Hebei Province, although he was born in Inner Mongolia.
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