Bishops lie on the ground in front of the main altar of St. Peter's Basilica as Pope John Paul II ordains them January 6. The Pope ordained 12 new bishops, hours after China bluntly defied his authority by installing five bishops for its state Catholic church in a blow to efforts for closer ties. The Pope's authority as head of the one-billion member Roman Catholic Church is based in part on his sole right to appoint bishops and cardinals.

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