Vatican announces Pope Leo XIV’s first Chinese bishop appointment

By Ciara Mina

The Vatican has declared that Pope Leo XIV has appointed his first Chinese bishop.

China recognises bishop nomination

Chinese officials acknowledged Pope Leo XIV’s nomination of Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan as the auxiliary bishop of Fuzhou.

The appointment of China’s first bishop under the new pope has “enhanced understanding and mutual trust through constructive dialogue” with the Vatican, according to Beijing’s foreign ministry.

Lin Jian, the spokesperson for the foreign ministry, stated that China is prepared to collaborate with the Vatican in order to support the ongoing development of China-Vatican relations.

“We are pleased to learn that today, on the occasion of the taking possession of the Office of Auxiliary Bishop of Fuzhou by His Excellency Monsignor Joseph Lin Yuntuan, his Episcopal Ministry is also recognised for the purposes of civil law.”

“This event constitutes a further fruit of the dialogue between the Holy See and the Chinese Authorities and is an important step in the journey of communion of the Diocese,” the Holy See Press Office director Matteo Bruni stated.

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2018 Vatican-China agreement

This is the new pope’s first Chinese bishop appointment.

The move is seen as him carrying on one of Pope Francis’ most controversial foreign policy choices under the 2018 Vatican-China agreement which riled conservatives as China had insisted on having the sole authority to choose bishops, while the Vatican maintained that the pope had the sole authority to do so.

The 2018 agreement was intended to mend that division, regularise the status of seven bishops who were not recognised by Rome, and end the decades-long hostility between China and the Vatican.

The Vatican has since renewed it on a regular basis, claiming it was the finest offer available.

Some have criticised the arrangement for selling off China’s underground faithful and caving in to Beijing’s demands.

Although Francis maintained his veto authority over the final decision, the 2018 agreement, which allowed the state-controlled church to choose its own leaders, was never made public.

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