In an apparent breach of the Vatican’s agreement with China on the appointment of bishops, the bishop of Haimen was installed as the bishop of Shanghai April 4.

“On this joyful occasion,” Pope Francis said he also wished to express his “spiritual closeness to all those who are going through moments of trial caused by the coronavirus pandemic.”

Though Cardinal Zen is sometimes considered an adversary of Pope Francis, today’s audience reveals that there is a deeper bond of faith and friendliness between the Hong Kong cardinal and the Argentine pope than many realize.

Zen was elevated to cardinal by Benedict in 2006, which he said signaled the pope’s focus on China.

The great Jesuit missionary to China, Matteo Ricci, was declared "Venerable" by Pope Francis today, the first step on the path to canonization.

Beijing and the Vatican are once again tangling over the prickly issue of appointing Chinese bishops.