In a significant development marking the start of Pope Leo XIV’s leadership, the Vatican has confirmed the appointment of the first Chinese bishop under his papacy—a move signaling ongoing support for a contentious agreement with Beijing over episcopal nominations.
The Holy See announced on Wednesday that Pope Leo had appointed Joseph Lin Yuntuan as auxiliary bishop of Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian province, on June 5. China has officially recognized the appointment, prompting the Vatican to express “satisfaction” and describe it as “a further fruit of the dialogue between the Holy See and Chinese authorities” and a key milestone in the diocese’s journey.
Although the Vatican and China do not maintain formal diplomatic relations—largely due to the Holy See’s recognition of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory—the two sides reached a landmark deal in 2018 to share input on bishop appointments in China. The agreement, whose text remains undisclosed, has been met with criticism, particularly from those who fear it gives the Chinese Communist government excessive control over the Catholic Church.
Nonetheless, the deal was renewed multiple times under Pope Francis, most recently in October 2024 for another four years, as part of broader efforts to build a relationship with China’s estimated 12 million Catholics.
Following Francis’ death on April 21, and before the election of Pope Leo XIV on May 8, Chinese authorities moved ahead with the “election” of two bishops in Shanghai and Xinxiang. Analysts viewed this as a strategic move by the Communist Party to assert authority during the brief period of leadership transition at the Vatican.
