Pope Leo XIV Appoints First Chinese Bishop, Reaffirms Controversial Vatican-Beijing Deal

In a clear signal that he intends to uphold one of his predecessor’s most debated policies, Pope Leo XIV has appointed his first Chinese bishop under the Vatican’s 2018 agreement with Beijing, a move seen as a continuation of the Holy See’s controversial engagement with China.

The Vatican confirmed that Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan, named auxiliary bishop of Fuzhou on June 5, received formal recognition from Chinese authorities on Wednesday. A Vatican statement called the development a “further fruit of the dialogue between the Holy See and the Chinese authorities” and a “significant step in the diocese’s communal journey.”

The 2018 deal, forged under Pope Francis, sought to bridge the long-standing divide between China’s state-sanctioned Catholic church and the underground church loyal to Rome. The core dispute—who holds the authority to appoint bishops—was partially resolved by a compromise: Beijing gained input in the nomination process, while the pope retained final veto power.

The agreement, kept confidential and periodically renewed, has faced sharp criticism from conservative Catholics, who argue that it concedes too much to China and abandons underground Catholics who have endured decades of state repression.

Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope in history, had faced mounting pressure to clarify his position on the deal. His move to proceed with Lin’s appointment suggests a willingness to maintain the diplomatic engagement initiated by Francis, despite reports of China making unilateral episcopal appointments without Vatican approval.

Tensions over these violations came to a head just before Leo’s election, when the Chinese church advanced the selection process for two bishops without coordinating with Rome.

With an estimated 12 million Catholics in China still navigating between state control and allegiance to the Vatican, Leo’s decision is likely to spark further debate within the global Church over how to balance diplomacy, religious freedom, and papal authority in China.