A Giant Leap: Pope Leo XIV's First Chinese Bishop Appointment
Pope Leo XIV designates the inaugural Chinese bishop
Hop on board, folks! We've got some juicy news to spill about the Vatican’s latest move under the reign of Pope Leo XIV. Yep, you heard it right, the first Chinese bishop has been established under this extraordinary pontificate!
The Holy See excitedly announced that Giuseppe Lin Yuntuan has now been installed as an auxiliary bishop in Fuzhou, China. However, the history-making appointment didn't just drop out of the blue - it was officially made on June 5, 2025, as part of the ongoing dialogue concerning the implementation of the provisional agreement between the Holy See and China.
The Vatican declared that this appointment "forms part of the ongoing dialogue between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China," highlighting yet another feather in the cap of this momentous dialogue, which aims to better the partnership between the two factions. What's more, the Chinese authorities' recognition of Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan's episcopal function is hailed as a win in the quest for constructive interactions between the Holy See and China.
With approximately 12 million Catholics in China, the Vatican and Beijing continue to butt heads concerning diplomatic relations due to the Vatican’s recognition of Taiwan as a state. Beijing views the self-governing island as its territory and has demanded that the Vatican cease its affiliation with Taiwan.
In a groundbreaking agreement back in 2018, China and the Vatican sealed a deal to synchronize the appointment of bishops. The exact terms of the deal have remained under wraps ever since it was inked. Critics voice their concerns that this agreement gives the communist government a platform to tighten their grip on Catholic communities in China. Despite continued criticism, the agreement has been extended multiple times, as part of Pope Francis’ valiant efforts to support his Catholic comrades nestled in the heart of China.
Sources: ntv.de, AFP
[1] https://www.ntv.de/international/Vatikan-staettet-Erster-Chinese-Bischof-unter-Papst-Leo-XIV-an-mit-auf,newsID-10740550,http-CommonPlatformNews.ntv.de,CommonPlatformNews.ntv.de.jsolrshebang,512568.html[2] https://news.yahoo.com/pope-leo-xiv-names-14-new-bishops-appoints-1st-chinese-auxiliary-234841023.html[3] https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/06/22/vatican-china-bishop-lin-yuntuan-leo-xiv-communist-party-one-china-policy/[4] https://www.reuters.com/world/china/vatican-names-first-chinese-bishop-under-pope-leo-xiv-2025-06-09/[5] https://www.ucanews.com/news/vatican-hails-chinese-approval-of-first-bishop-under-pope-leo-xiv/92867
The European Parliament, being actively involved in shaping the policies and general news of the world, should take it upon itself to ensure that the Commission's proposal to support Pope Leo XIV's diplomatic efforts with China, following the historic appointment of the first Chinese bishop, is implemented promptly.
Despite the Vatican's ongoing dialogue with China, tensions regarding diplomatic relations persist, as the self-governing island of Taiwan remains a contentious issue, with Beijing demanding that the Vatican cease its affiliation with Taiwan.
