Bishop Chang Yanfeng Ordained in Chifeng Under Vatican-China Accord

According to the Holy See Press Office, Pope Leo approved Chang’s candidacy on 15 June 2026 before his episcopal ordination. At 42 years old, Chang becomes one of the younger members of China’s Catholic hierarchy and the first Chinese bishop appointed in 2026 under the Vatican-Beijing arrangement.

His ordination follows two episcopal appointments made during the period between the death of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo. Ignatius Wu Jianlin was ordained auxiliary bishop of Shanghai in October 2025, while Francis Li Jianlin became bishop of the Apostolic Prefecture of Xinxiang in Henan Province in December 2025. Another episcopal ordination is expected to take place in China next week.

The ceremony was held at the Catholic Church in Hongshan District of Chifeng City and drew approximately 400 participants, including clergy, religious sisters and lay faithful, according to official sources. The ordination was presided over by Bishop Meng Qinglu of Hohhot, who also serves as deputy chairman of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA). He was joined by Bishop Pei Junmin, deputy chairman of the Chinese Catholic Bishops’ Conference, and Bishop Yao Shun of Ulanqab as co-consecrators.

A Diocese Without a Bishop for Twenty Years

Chang assumes leadership of a local Church that has lacked its own bishop since the death of Bishop Andreas Zhu Wenyu in 2006.

The Catholic presence in Chifeng stretches back nearly two centuries. Missionaries from the Missions Étrangères de Paris arrived in the region around 1835, followed later by Belgian missionaries from the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, commonly known as the Scheut Fathers. These missionaries ministered extensively among the local Mongolian population until the establishment of Communist rule, when foreign missionaries were expelled.

Following the upheaval of the Cultural Revolution, Catholic life in Chifeng gradually recovered during the 1980s. In 1990, Father Andreas Zhu Wenyu was ordained bishop without papal approval, a circumstance that reflected the long-standing tensions between Beijing and the Vatican over episcopal appointments. He subsequently sought and obtained reconciliation with Rome, remaining bishop until his death.

Today, the Catholic community in Chifeng numbers approximately 50,000 faithful served by around 30 priests and 20 nuns.

Academic Formation and Church Leadership

Born on 4 April 1984 in Weichang County, Chengde, Hebei Province, Chang received his philosophical and theological education at the Shenyang Catholic Theological Seminary between 2000 and 2006.

He later continued his formation abroad, studying at Daejeon Catholic University in South Korea from 2007 to 2010, where he earned a master’s degree in Biblical Theology. He was ordained to the priesthood in November 2010.

Before becoming bishop, Chang served as director of the Chifeng Catholic Patriotic Association, effectively acting as the senior administrator of the local Church. His selection as bishop-designate took place on 20 March 2026 through the official election mechanisms established under China’s system of religious self-governance.

Appointment Comes Amid Ethnic Policy Debate

Chang’s ordination carries significance beyond ecclesiastical administration due to the political and cultural context in which it occurred.

Inner Mongolia has been particularly affected by the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, approved in March and implemented on 1 July. The legislation is part of broader efforts to advance the government’s policy of sinicisation, which critics argue has accelerated the decline of minority languages and cultures.

The demographic landscape of Inner Mongolia has changed dramatically over recent decades. Ethnic Mongols now account for less than one-fifth of the region’s approximately 25 million residents, while Mandarin Chinese increasingly dominates educational and public life.

Chifeng occupies a sensitive position within this environment. The city, known in Mongolian as Ulanhad, meaning “Red Peak,” is home to roughly 4.6 million people, about 80 per cent of whom are Han Chinese. At the same time, significant Mongolian populations remain in the region’s rural banner districts, including Aohan and Hexigten.

The area’s historical importance is closely linked to Mongolian heritage. During the Liao Dynasty, from 916 to 1125, the nomadic Khitan people established their capital in the region, making questions of cultural identity and ethnic relations particularly sensitive.

Public Support for Beijing’s Ethnic Unity Policies

The timing of Chang’s ordination has drawn attention because of statements he made shortly before becoming bishop.

Reports published by the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association described meetings between Chang and diocesan advisers, as well as leaders of other official Church organizations. A significant portion of those discussions focused on the implementation of the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress.

According to the report, participants emphasized the importance of understanding the law’s legal and practical implications and pledged support for its objectives. The discussions highlighted the need to strengthen what officials described as a sense of community within the Chinese nation and to integrate legal principles into the daily work of evangelization.

The local Catholic community also committed itself to aligning with state policies on ethnic and religious affairs, promoting education on ethnic unity, encouraging legal awareness, maintaining discipline among believers and supporting social stability.

For Bishop Chang, the beginning of his episcopal ministry therefore arrives at a pivotal moment. As he takes responsibility for a diocese that has waited twenty years for a resident bishop, he must navigate not only the pastoral needs of Chifeng’s Catholics but also the complex realities of a region where questions of faith, culture and state policy remain deeply intertwined.

• Raju Hasmukh with files from Asianews.it