Pope Leo XIV made his first-ever appointment in China by naming a new auxiliary, Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan, to the Archdiocese of Fuzhou.
The Holy See expressed its profound joy with the Chinese government’s recognition of the ecclesiastical authority of Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan, whom the Holy Father appointed on June 5. The recognition of the civil effects and taking possession of the office of the new auxiliary was made public on June 11 through a declaration of the director of the Holy See Press Office.
Bishop Yuntuan had previously been ordained a bishop in the underground church in 2017. The Vatican has credited the Sino-Vatican deal, a mutual agreement between the two nations signed in September 2019, as crucial in finalizing the appointment of Bishop-Elect Yuntuan.
“This event constitutes a further fruit of the dialogue between the Holy See and the Chinese Authorities and is an important step in the journey of the communion of the diocese,” said the Holy See.
Through Pope Francis’ initiatives, the said deal aims to heal the divide between the Catholic Church and the Chinese government, which demanded an exclusive right to name their bishops.
The details of the Sino-Vatican deal were never revealed to the public, but it offered leeway to the state-controlled church to have a say in Church leader appointments.
Nevertheless, Pope Francis has retained the power to veto candidates.
Fuzhou’s new auxiliary bishop, Joseph Lin Yuntuan, was born on March 12, 1952, in Fuqing, Fujian. He was ordained to the priesthood on April 9, 1984.
He served as a parish priest in different parishes from 1984 to 1994 and from 1996 to 2002. He was also appointed as deputy director of the Diocesan Economic Commission for two terms, from 1994 to 1996 and from 2000 to 2003.
From 2003 to 2007, Msgr. Yuntuan served as diocesan administrator and later performed the ministry of Apostolic Administrator ad nutum Sanctae Sedis (at the will of the Holy See).
As auxiliary bishop, he will assist Bishop Joseph Cai Bingrui in shepherding the Catholic faithful in one of the largest cities in Fujian province.
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