UCANews: China on Thursday held its first bishop election since Pope Francis assumed the papacy in March last year, in what will be a key test of relations between Beijing and the Vatican as they decide whether to endorse the candidate.
Father Joseph Tang Yuange of Chengdu diocese in southwestern Sichuan won against two other priests in two rounds of voting, in the presence of Bishops Luo Xuegang of Yibin and Joseph Chen Gong’ao of Nanchong, the only two Vatican-approved prelates in the province. Government officials were also present, as is normal at bishop candidate elections in China.
“Among the voters which included priests, deacons, nuns and laypersons, 39 votes went to Fr Tang and eight voted against him,” said a Church source who took part in the poll at a Chengdu hotel. Read more here.
