VATICAN CITY - A new assistant Catholic bishop for Beijing was ordained on Oct 25, three days after the Vatican and Chinese officials extended an accord on appointments in China, the Vatican said.

Bishop Matthew Zhen Xuebin, 54, was named to the role by Pope Francis, who approved his nomination within the framework of a diplomatic deal originally struck in 2018 that gives Chinese officials some input into papal appointments.

Some conservative Catholics say the deal gives too much influence to China's ruling communists, who have kept a tight reign on religious practice since taking power in 1949.