By Deborah Nnamdi
The Vatican announced Wednesday the first episcopal appointment in China under Pope Leo XIV, marking the new pontiff’s endorsement of a contentious agreement on bishop nominations brokered by his predecessor with Beijing.
The Holy See confirmed the appointment of Joseph Lin Yuntuan as auxiliary bishop of Fuzhou, the capital of southeastern Fujian province, which was made by Pope Leo on June 5. It welcomed China’s recognition of the nomination, expressing “satisfaction” and calling it “an important step in the communal journey of the diocese.”
“This event represents further fruit of the dialogue between the Holy See and the Chinese authorities,” the Vatican said in a statement.
Although the Vatican and China lack formal diplomatic ties—primarily due to the Holy See’s recognition of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its territory—a breakthrough deal was reached in 2018, granting both sides a role in the appointment of Chinese bishops. China is home to an estimated 12 million Catholics.
The agreement, whose exact terms remain undisclosed, has been criticized within Church circles for allegedly giving the Communist Party excessive control over religious leadership. Nevertheless, the accord was renewed multiple times under Pope Francis, most recently in October 2024 for another four years.
Pope Francis passed away on April 21 after serving for 12 years, and Leo XIV was elected by a conclave of cardinals on May 8.
During the interregnum, Beijing unilaterally proceeded with the “election” of bishops in the dioceses of Shanghai and Xinxiang—a move many analysts interpret as an attempt by Chinese authorities to assert influence during the Vatican’s leadership transition.
