A new Catholic bishop has been appointed for Fuzhou, the capital of southeastern China’s Fujian province, marking a continuation of the ongoing agreement between the Catholic Church and Chinese authorities concerning bishop nominations.

Joseph Lin Yuntuan, 73, was officially recognized as an auxiliary bishop under the terms of a 2018 arrangement that allows Chinese officials to play a role in the selection process, while final approval rests with the pope. This appointment was made under the leadership of Pope Leo, signaling that the agreement remains in effect.

Michel Chambon, a scholar specializing in Christianity in China, commented that the event reflects a shared commitment by both sides to maintain dialogue rather than foster conflict.

The arrangement has been controversial among some traditionalist Catholics, who argue that it grants excessive influence to the Chinese government, which has tightly regulated religious activity since 1949. Nonetheless, the Church emphasizes that the pope retains ultimate authority over appointments. The agreement is seen as a way to bridge the long-standing divide between the underground Catholic community, which maintains loyalty to the Vatican, and the state-backed Catholic Patriotic Association.

Lin was initially consecrated as a bishop in 2017 without government recognition. Recently, the Holy See acknowledged his installation with approval, describing it as a meaningful outcome of ongoing dialogue with Chinese authorities.

During the installation ceremony, Lin pledged to uphold national laws and promote social stability, according to information shared by the Catholic Patriotic Association.

There are an estimated 5 million Catholics in China out of a population of approximately 1.4 billion. The agreement between the Church and China was most recently extended in October 2024 for another four years. While the exact contents of the deal have not been disclosed, it has been described in general terms by diplomatic representatives.