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Kawala Xie

China said it was willing to promote better relations with the Vatican after the appointment of the first Chinese bishop under the new pope.
On Wednesday, the Vatican said Pope Leo had named Joseph Lin Yuntuan, 73, as an auxiliary bishop in Fuzhou, capital of the southwestern province of Fujian, on June 5.
The appointment continues an agreement reached under Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis, that bishops must be approved by both sides.
The announcement was made on the same day that Beijing recognised the appointment.
The Vatican described Chinese recognition of the bishop as “a further fruit of the dialogue between the Holy See and the Chinese authorities” and “a significant step in the diocese’s communal journey”, according to Vatican News.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said: “In recent years, China and the Vatican have maintained communication and enhanced understanding and mutual trust through constructive dialogue.
“With the joint efforts of both sides, the provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops has been smoothly implemented.
“China is willing to work with the Vatican to promote the continuous improvement of China-Vatican relations.”
According to the website of the Catholic Church in China, Lin was inaugurated in Fujian on Wednesday. During the ceremony, he pledged to “love the country and the church”, uphold the principle of independence and self-management of the church, as well as the path of Catholicism’s sinicisation.
Beijing and the Holy See achieved a historic breakthrough in 2018 after decades of strained relations by signing the provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops in China. The agreement has since been renewed every two years, and 2024’s deal will run for four years.
The terms of the landmark deal have been largely kept confidential, but it is believed to allow both Beijing and the Holy See to have a say in appointing Chinese bishops.
The deal was an attempt to bridge the long-standing schism in China’s estimated 12 million-strong Catholic community, which is divided between those who attend state-sanctioned churches and the underground churches that remain loyal to the Vatican.
The deal was seen by some as one of Vatican’s most controversial foreign policies as the Holy See did not have formal diplomatic ties with Beijing.




The Vatican is among 12 governments to still maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan, with most of the others having switched recognition to Beijing, which regards the island as part of its territory.
During Francis’s pontificate, the Vatican adopted a pragmatic approach to China, talking to Beijing about the war in Ukraine as the late pope sought international mediation to end the conflict.
Beijing offered its condolences when Francis died and congratulated Pope Leo XIV when he was chosen as his successor, becoming the first American to hold the position.
At the time, Lin said Beijing hoped that the Vatican would continue to hold “constructive dialogue with China”, work to improve relations and “contribute to world peace, stability, development and prosperity”.


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China-Vatican relations

Joseph Lin Yuntuan has been appointed as an auxiliary bishop in Fuzhou. Photo: chinacatholic.cn

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News

China

Diplomacy

The announcement signals that a controversial deal which gives both sides a say on episcopal appointments will continue


The announcement signals that a controversial deal which gives both sides a say on episcopal appointments will continue.


Holy See

Pope Leo XIV