The Catholic News Service on December 17, reported that a group of Vatican officials led by Pope Francis' chief China negotiator, Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli had recently visited Beijing for talks regarding joint recognition by the Vatican and CCP-run Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association of a group of Vatican-appointed bishops from the so-called underground church.  On December 14, Chinese state media announced that Bishop Zhan Silu had been confirmed as head of Mindong Diocese and Bishop Huang Bingzhang has become head of the Shantou Diocese. Vatican-appointed Bishop Guo Xijin, who has headed the Mindong Diocese since 2006 and who has been detained by authorities a number of times in the past year, agreed to step down to the position of auxiliary. Bishop Guo told the state-run Global Times  "I will become the auxiliary bishop, and Bishop Zhan Silu will be the diocesan bishop in Mindong, here's nothing to worry about, as this is God's will."