Vatican backs replacement for China underground bishop

The Vatican announced Friday the ordination of a new bishop in China to replace a clergyman who had been arrested several times during decades operating without Beijing's approval.

Pope Leo XIV appointed Francis Li Jianlin to replace Joseph Zhang Weizhu under a controversial deal with China on the appointment of bishops, the Vatican statement said.

It said Zhang Weizhu had resigned.

According to Catholic newspaper The Tablet, Li Jianlin was one of two people "elected" bishops by Chinese authorities unilaterally in the week after Pope Francis's death in April.

The Vatican is unable to ratify appointments of bishops during the power vacuum caused by the death of a pope.

The appointment in the city of Xinxiang in the northern Henan

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