Pope Leo XIV Names First Chinese Bishop

CHINA – Pope Leo XIV has made his first bishop appointment under the Vatican’s controversial agreement with China, signaling continuity with a policy that sparked division during the papacy of his predecessor, Pope Francis.

On June 5th, Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan was appointed to lead the Diocese of Fuzhou, a nomination that received official recognition from Beijing earlier this week. The move marks the first major step by Pope Leo under the 2018 Vatican-China agreement, which allows the Chinese government a role in appointing Catholic bishops.

Religious leaders see the appointment as a clear indication that Pope Leo intends to uphold the deal, despite ongoing criticism. Supporters argue the agreement helps bridge the divide among China’s estimated 12 million Catholics, many of whom have long been split between the underground church loyal to Rome and the state-sanctioned church.

However, critics continue to denounce the deal, calling it a concession to the Chinese Communist regime that compromises the autonomy of the Catholic Church.

The Vatican, meanwhile, maintains that the agreement fosters unity and stability among Chinese Catholics, offering a long-term path toward healing decades of religious division. Whether Pope Leo’s decision will calm or further inflame tensions remains to be seen.