The new pope has signalled his intention of sticking to a 2018 agreement forged with Beijing by his predecessor, Pope Francis, on the appointment Chinese bishops.
According to the BBC, Pope Leo XIV’s appointment of Fuzhou Auxiliary Bishop, Joseph Lin Yuntuan, is being regarded as an affirmation of the commitment of both the church and the Chinses state to the 2018 accord.
The agreement sought to improve relations between the Vatican and China.
The BBC reports that the agreement gave Chinese officials some input on the appointment of bishops, but that its contents were never fully disclosed to the public.
It says that Beijing insists that the state must approve the appointment of bishops in China, running contrary to the Catholic Church’s insistence that it is a papal decision.
China’s 10 million Catholics currently face the choice of attending state-sanctioned churches approved by Beijing or worshipping in underground congregations that have sworn allegiance to the Vatican.
In a statement, the Vatican said Yuntuan’s ministry had been “recognised” by Chinese law, adding: “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 communion of the Diocese.”