The Vatican has appointed a new Catholic bishop for the Diocese of Chifeng in Inner Mongolia, ending a 20-year vacancy while continuing its controversial agreement with the Chinese Communist Party over the selection of bishops. The agreement has drawn criticism because it reportedly gives the officially atheist Chinese Communist Party influence over the appointment of Catholic bishops, even as the regime continues to persecute Christians and restrict religious freedom. The Vatican-affiliated outlet AsiaNews, cited by Breitbart, reported that Chifeng had gone two decades without a bishop. The diocese now has its first bishop in 20 years under the Vatican’s agreement with Beijing. Today, the diocese includes “around 50,000 members, with some 30 priests and 20 nuns dedicated to their pastoral care.”