The Vatican has confirmed the first Chinese bishop appointment under Pope Leo XIV, signalling continued support for a contested 2018 accord on bishop nominations with Beijing

[dropcap]C[/dropcap]hinese bishop appointed under Pope Leo XIV has highlighted the new pontiff’s backing of a controversial Vatican accord with Beijing on the naming of bishops in China.

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In a statement released on Wednesday, the Holy See confirmed that Joseph Lin Yuntuan had been appointed auxiliary bishop of Fuzhou, the capital of China’s southeastern Fujian province.

The papal nomination was made on 5 June 2025 and subsequently recognised by Chinese authorities.

The Vatican described the development as “further fruit of the dialogue between the Holy See and the Chinese authorities”, calling it “an important step in the communal journey of the diocese.”

This marks the first Chinese episcopal appointment under Leo XIV, who succeeded Pope Francis following his death on 21 April after 12 years at the helm of the Roman Catholic Church. The conclave of cardinals elected Pope Leo XIV on 8 May.

The Vatican and Beijing have had a historically complex relationship, lacking formal diplomatic ties due to the Holy See’s recognition of Taiwan a self-governed island claimed by China.

Nevertheless, in 2018, both sides agreed on a provisional deal allowing joint input on bishop appointments in mainland China, home to an estimated 12 million Catholics.

Though the full terms of the agreement remain undisclosed, the deal was most recently renewed in October 2024 for another four years.

The agreement has provoked criticism within the Church, with detractors warning it could grant the Chinese Communist Party undue influence over ecclesiastical matters.

Despite this, Pope Francis endorsed the deal as a pragmatic step towards nurturing the Church’s presence in China.

Between Pope Francis’s death and Pope Leo XIV’s election, Beijing moved unilaterally to install bishops in the dioceses of Shanghai and Xinxiang.

Observers saw this as a manoeuvre to exploit the transitional period within the Vatican and assert China’s dominance over Catholic affairs on the mainland.

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The Vatican’s latest appointment signals not only continuity in its diplomatic strategy but also a cautious reaffirmation of its controversial pact with the Chinese government.