Pope, China split over bishop -- report

VATICAN CITY, Apr 28 (Reuters) China's government-backed Catholic Church is set to buck the Vatican by appointing a bishop that the Holy See considers divisive, Catholic news agency AsiaNews reported today.

China refuses to allow the Vatican to appoint bishops and it does not let Catholics recognise the authority of the Pope, saying this would be interference in its internal affairs.

Instead, Chinese Catholics must belong to a state-backed church known as the Catholic Patriotic Association, or PA.

But long-icy relations between the PA and the Vatican had been improving, with shared agreement on appointments of bishops last year.

According to AsiaNews, a Rome-based Catholic news agency specialising in China, the PA has selected to promote to bishop Father Ma Yinglin, 40.

''The Vatican has already let it be known for some time that it does not support the candidacy of Father Ma, who is too close to the power structure of the PA and has little pastoral experience,'' the agency said.

Yinglin is the secretary-general of the Chinese Catholic Bishops' College and holds various positions within the PA.

There was no immediate comment from the Vatican.

The Vatican estimates it has about 8 million followers in China who worship in the ''underground Church'', compared with some 5 million who follow the state-backed association.

China has had no diplomatic ties with the Vatican since 1951, two years after the Communist takeover. Beijing has insisted that ties cannot be resumed unless Rome first severs links with Taiwan, which Beijing considers a renegade province.

The Vatican last month urged China's government to open a dialogue and overcome their differences.

The overture came as Pope Benedict elevated Hong Kong Bishop Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, who has criticised the lack of religious freedom in China, to the rank of Roman Catholic cardinal.

REUTERS CH BD2016