Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin of Wenzhou, a city in the eastern Zhejiang province of China, was arrested on January 2 by Chinese authorities. Bishop Shao, a figure not recognized by the Chinese government due to his allegiance to Rome, has been a subject of continuous conflict between the Vatican and Beijing.
The 61-year-old bishop, known for his refusal to register with the state-controlled Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CPCA), has been a regular target of government harassment.
His latest arrest follows a letter he wrote to Father Ma Xianshi, the government-appointed head of his diocese. In the letter, Bishop Shao voiced concerns about significant changes made in the diocese without his consent, including the transfer of priests and the ordination of seminarians.
“Pursuant to the Code of Canon Law, anyone who receives holy orders from someone who lacks legitimate power to order is automatically suspended,” Bishop Shao stated in his letter.
AsiaNews, which reported the arrest, indicated that the bishop was advised to take clothing for all seasons, suggesting a prolonged detention period. “The faithful are worried because they don’t even know where he will be detained,” a source told AsiaNews. This arrest is yet another episode in a series of detentions Shao has faced since his ordination as bishop with a papal mandate in 2011.
This incident also raises questions about the future of the Vatican-China deal set to expire in October 2024.
Despite the agreement, which aimed to bridge the gap between the underground and state-approved Catholic churches in China, incidents like Bishop Shao’s arrest demonstrate ongoing tensions and the complex relationship between the Chinese government and the Vatican.
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