Vatican says China violated pact on bishops

VATICAN CITY—The Vatican on Saturday accused Chinese authorities of violating a pact on the appointment of bishops by installing one in a diocese not recognized by the Holy See. A statement said the Vatican learned with “surprise and regret” that the bishop of another district had been installed as auxiliary, or assistant, bishop in Jiangxi. The unauthorized installation appeared to be one of the most serious violations of a 2018 agreement between the Vatican and Beijing. Jiangxi is not recognized by the Vatican as a diocese, the statement said, adding that the installation did not “conform to the spirit of dialogue” that both sides had agreed to in 2018.