Pope Leo XIV has made headlines by appointing Fuzhou Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan as the first bishop of China during his papacy. This appointment signifies that he will uphold a historic agreement aimed at mending ties between the Vatican and China, a deal established in 2018 under the late Pope Francis.
Both the Vatican and Beijing have celebrated Lin's appointment as a positive reinforcement of the accord, allowing Chinese officials some input in selecting bishops, although the specific details of this agreement have never been publicly revealed.
In China, where approximately 10 million Catholics reside, worshippers face a critical decision: to attend state-approved churches or to join underground congregations loyal to the Vatican. The Vatican noted that Lin’s ministry is recognized by Chinese law, characterizing the appointment as a product of the ongoing dialogue between the Holy See and Chinese authorities.
China's foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated the appointment illustrates how smoothly the 2018 agreement is being implemented, expressing China's willingness to enhance relations with the Vatican. According to Michel Chambon, a researcher at the Asia Research Institute, the Pope’s actions indicate a preference for reconciliation rather than confrontation.
The Vatican's acknowledgment of seven bishops appointed by China in 2018, along with a posthumous recognition of another bishop, marks a cautious thaw in the previously icy diplomatic relationship, which froze in 1951 when China severed ties with the Holy See. The situation for Catholics in China has changed since the 1980s, when religious practices became more accepted following the oppressive era of former communist leader Mao Zedong.
