BEIJING >> China’s government-backed Catholic church says it will proceed with the ordination of a bishop who does not have the pope’s approval, despite objections raised by the Vatican.

Liu Bainian, spokesman for the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, said Friday in a phone interview that the Rev. Guo Jincai will be ordained Saturday in Chengde, in northeastern Hebei.

China forced its Roman Catholics to cut ties with the Vatican in 1951, but Pope Benedict XVI appears to have made progress in improving relations with Beijing.

The Vatican on Thursday warned China that efforts at reconciliation will be set back if bishops loyal to the pope are forced to attend the ordination.