Pope Leo XIV Approves First Chinese Bishop as Vatican-China Accord Holds
Joseph Lin Yuntuan has been appointed as the auxiliary bishop of Fuzhou, by the Holy See, indicating continuity with a contentious China-Vatican agreement. Under Pope Leo XIV, this is the first nomination for an episcopal position.
The Vatican confirmed that the appointment was made by the new pope on June 5. In an official statement, it expressed satisfaction that Chinese authorities recognised the bishop, calling it “a significant step in the shared journey of the local diocese” and a result of ongoing dialogue between Rome and Beijing.
Although the Vatican and China do not maintain official diplomatic ties primarily due to the Holy See’s recognition of Taiwan, the 2018 bilateral agreement on bishop nominations remains in effect. The secretive accord allows both parties some say in episcopal appointments in China, where an estimated 12 million Catholics reside.
The agreement, renewed in October 2024 for another four years, has sparked internal debate within the Catholic Church. Critics argue it compromises religious freedom by giving the Chinese Communist Party influence over church leadership.
Despite this, Pope Francis, who led the Church until his death on April 21, pushed to strengthen relations with Beijing. His successor, Pope Leo XIV, elected on May 8, now inherits the sensitive diplomatic balancing act.
Notably, between the death of Francis and Leo’s election, Chinese authorities appointed bishops in the dioceses of Shanghai and Xinxiang without Vatican approval. Analysts saw the move as an attempt to assert greater control during the papal transition.
The appointment of Bishop Lin appears to signal that the fragile Vatican-China accord remains intact under the new pontiff, even as debates continue over its impact on religious autonomy in China.
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Content Credit| Dada Blessing
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