Pope Leo XIV has made his first appointment of a Chinese bishop, signaling the continuation of the Vatican’s agreement with Beijing over church leadership in China. According to The Associated Press, this move maintains the course set by the 2018 arrangement between the Vatican and Chinese authorities.
The Vatican confirmed that Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan was appointed as auxiliary bishop of Fuzhou on June 5. His appointment was formally recognized by Chinese authorities on Wednesday. The Vatican described the event as a meaningful step in the shared journey of the local church community, adding that Lin’s acceptance is a result of ongoing dialogue between the Holy See and China.
The 2018 agreement was one of the most debated decisions during Pope Francis’ leadership. It attempted to resolve the long-standing division between China’s state-backed Catholic church and the underground church loyal to Rome. For decades, China’s estimated 12 million Catholics were split between these two communities.
The arrangement aimed to bring unity by recognizing previously unauthorized bishops and offering a process where China’s government and the Vatican could jointly handle bishop appointments. Despite the Vatican claiming final approval rights, some Catholic groups have criticized the deal, suggesting it concedes too much control to Beijing.
Tensions resurfaced shortly before the election of Pope Leo XIV when the Chinese church held preliminary votes to select two bishops without prior papal consent. Similar situations in the past raised concerns about Beijing’s adherence to the agreement.
One of the major uncertainties at the start of Leo’s papacy was whether he would continue this Vatican-China pathway or adjust it to address conservative opposition. By moving forward with Bishop Lin’s appointment, the pope has shown he is prepared to maintain the agreement, at least for now.
“The appointment constitutes a further fruit of the dialogue between the Holy See and the Chinese authorities and is a significant step in the diocese’s communal journey,” the Vatican said in its statement.
The future of the Vatican’s relationship with China remains under close observation, as the agreement continues to influence the leadership structure of the Catholic church within the country.
Article updated 1 day ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
