Latest news with #JosephLinYuntuan
BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Pope names Chinese bishop as he keeps historic Vatican-Beijing deal
Pope Leo XIV has appointed the first Chinese bishop of his papacy, signalling that he will continue a historic agreement that sought to improve relations between the Vatican and sides have hailed the appointment of Fuzhou Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan as an affirmation of their commitment to the 2018 accord, which was reached under the late Pope agreement gave Chinese officials some input on the appointment of bishops. However, its contents were never fully disclosed to the 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 has some 10 million they face the choice of attending state-sanctioned churches approved by Beijing or worshipping in underground congregations that have sworn allegiance to the Wednesday, the Vatican said Yuntuan's ministry had been "recognised" by Chinese law."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," the Vatican asked about Yuntuan's appointment, foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters on Thursday that this showed how the 2018 agreement had been "smoothly implemented", state media is willing to work with the Vatican to continue improving relations, he Pope's move shows a "willingness to support reconciliation instead of antagonism", Michel Chambon, a research fellow at the Asia Research Institute in Singapore who has written extensively about the Catholic Church, told Reuters news September 2018, Pope Francis recognised seven bishops appointed by China. The Vatican also posthumously recognised an eighth bishop who died the year first broke off diplomatic ties with the Holy See in 1951, and many Catholics were forced to go underground during former communist leader Mao Zedong's rule, emerging only in the 1980s when religious practices were tolerated again.
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Beijing hails improving Vatican ties after Pope Leo names first Chinese bishop
The appointment signalled Pope Leo XIV's support for a controversial accord on nominations struck by his predecessor. (AP pic) BEIJING : Beijing hailed today improving ties with the Vatican after the first appointment of a Chinese bishop under Pope Leo XIV, signalling the new pontiff's support for a controversial accord on nominations struck by his predecessor. The Holy See expressed 'satisfaction' on Wednesday at the recognition by China of the appointment of Joseph Lin Yuntuan as auxiliary bishop of Fuzhou, capital of eastern Fujian province. The pope made the nomination on June 5. Beijing's foreign ministry said the naming of the first Chinese bishop under the new pope had 'enhanced understanding and mutual trust through constructive dialogue' with the Vatican. 'China is willing to work together with the Vatican to promote the continuous improvement of China–Vatican relations,' foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a regular news briefing. The Vatican and China do not have formal diplomatic relations because the Holy See recognises Taiwan, the self-ruled island that Beijing claims as its own territory. However, they agreed in a historic deal in 2018 to let both sides have a say in the naming of bishops in China, home to about 12 million Catholics. The deal has drawn criticism within the Church, with some seeing it as allowing the Communist Party government a stranglehold over China's Catholics. The deal was renewed several times as Pope Francis sought to make inroads for the Church in China, most recently in October 2024 for four years. 'With the joint efforts of both sides, the provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops has been smoothly implemented,' Lin Jian said.
UPI
2 days ago
- Politics
- UPI
Pope Leo XIV names new bishop for Archdiocese of Fuzhou, China
Pope Leo XIV Wednesday appointed Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Fuzhou, China. The Pope waves from the popemobile as he arrives for the weekly General Audience in St. Peter's Square, in Vatican City, May 21. Photo By Angelo Carconi/ EPA-EFE June 11 (UPI) -- Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday appointed Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Fuzhou, China. "We are pleased to learn that today, on the occasion of the taking possession of the Office of Auxiliary Bishop of Fuzhou by His Excellency Monsignor Joseph Lin Yuntuan, his Episcopal Ministry is also recognized for the purposes of civil law," the Holy See said in a statement. "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." The Vatican said that both "the recognition of the civil effects" and taking possession the office occurred Wednesday "in the framework of the dialogue regarding the application of the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China." Yuntuan's appointment was made possible by the Sino-Vatican deal signed in September 2024 and renewed for a third time in October 2024. A May 12 Human Rights Watch statement urged the Vatican to review the agreement that allows China to appoint bishops for government-approved houses of worship, subject to Pope Leo's approval. "Pope Leo XIV has an opportunity to make a fresh start with China to protect the religious freedom of China's Catholics," HRW associate China director Maya Wang said in a statement. "The new pope should press for negotiations that could help improve the right to religious practice for everyone in China." Details of the Sino-Vatican deal have never been made public. According to HRW, the agreement with the Vatican was signed during a period of intensified religious repression in China. HRW has urged Leo to press the Chinese government to immediately free several Catholic clergy who have been "imprisoned, forcibly disappeared, or subjected to house arrest and other harassment." Msgr. Joseph Lun Yuntuan is a China-born cleric ordained as a priest April 9, 1984. He was an episcopal delegate for several years and from 2013-2016 he "performed the ministry of Apostolic Administrator ad nutum Sanctae Sedis." Yuntuan received episcopal ordination Dec. 28, 2017. The metropolitan Archdiocese of Fuzhou was established in 1946. Leo has appointed 15 new bishops in Asia, the United States, Africa, Europe and South America.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
China gets new Catholic bishop, as Pope Leo continues deal over appointments
VATICAN CITY, June 11 (Reuters) - A new assistant Catholic bishop was installed on Wednesday for Fuzhou, the capital of China's southeastern Fujian province, signalling that the Vatican's accord with Beijing over Catholic bishop appointments will continue under Pope Leo. Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan, 73, was appointed by Leo within the framework of a diplomatic deal originally struck in 2018 that gives Chinese officials some input into papal appointments. Michel Chambon , an academic who has written extensively on the Chinese Church, said Wednesday's installation indicates that both parties want to continue with the accord. "It is a willingness to support reconciliation instead of antagonism," said Chambon, a research fellow at the Asia Research Institute in Singapore. Some conservative Catholics have criticized the Vatican-China deal, which was negotiated under the late Pope Francis. The critics say it gives too much influence to China's ruling communists, who have kept a tight rein on religious practice since taking power in 1949. The Vatican stresses that the pope retains final decision-making power and says the accord resolves a decades-long split between an underground church swearing loyalty to the Vatican and the state-supervised Catholic Patriotic Association. Yuntuan had previously been ordained a bishop in the underground church in 2017. The Vatican said in a brief statement that it had "learned with satisfaction" that his role had been officially recognised by the government. "This event constitutes another fruit of the dialogue between the Holy See and Chinese authorities and is a significant step," it said. As part of Wednesday's ceremony, Yuntuan swore to abide by Chinese laws and to safeguard social harmony, according to a report on social media provided by the Catholic Patriotic Association. Across China there are about 5 million Catholics in a total population of 1.4 billion, the Vatican estimates. The Vatican and China last renewed their accord in October 2024, for a further period of four years. The text of the deal has never been published, but only described by diplomatic officials.
