With the latest ordination of another Chinese bishop this week, the Fides news service reported that “…the number of Chinese Catholic bishops ordained in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, in accordance with the Provisional Agreement on new episcopal appointments reaches 16.”

Sixteen new bishops in six years. Great.

Meanwhile there are, by my count, 43 Chinese dioceses (including 2 archdioceses) and 22 apostolic prelatures that have no bishop. That total does not include the dioceses led by a bishop who is beyond retirement age, or temporarily under the care of an apostolic administrator.

So at the current rate (2.6667 appointments a year) those 65 leaderless Catholic communities will have a new bishop 24 years from now— assuming that none of the current bishops resign or die.

The Vatican continues to insist that the secret accord is producing satisfactory progress. Just be patient. Very patient.