The Holy See announced Wednesday the appointment of Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan as auxiliary of Fuzhou.
Newsroom, June 11, 2025, Gaudium Press – The Holy See announced on June 11, 2025, the appointment of Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan, a formerly underground bishop, as auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Fuzhou in mainland China. This marks the first episcopal appointment under Pope Leo XIV involving a mainland bishop and signals a significant shift in the dynamics of the Vatican-China deal.
Unlike previous appointments under the 2018 Vatican-China agreement, where the Chinese state often unilaterally named and installed bishops, this appointment originated from the Vatican. Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Lin on June 5, with the Chinese government subsequently agreeing to recognize the appointment, as announced on June 11. This reverses the typical pattern where Beijing’s nominations were followed by Vatican approval, often after the fact.
Senior clerics in mainland China confirmed to The Pillar that the initiative for Lin’s appointment came from Rome, at the request of Fuzhou’s Archbishop Joseph Cai Bingrui, who was installed in January 2025. Cai, reportedly well-regarded by local state officials, persuaded them to accept Lin as his auxiliary. One senior cleric described the situation vividly: “It was a case of the cat letting the mouse eat the grain this time.”
Bishop Lin, 73, was consecrated in 2017 but had not been recognized by the Chinese state until now. A native of the Fuzhou diocese, he served as its apostolic administrator during periods without a bishop (2003-2007 and 2013-2016). His appointment is notable not only for its canonical clarity—initiated by the pope independently of the state—but also for Lin’s history with the underground Church, a community that has resisted joining the state-sponsored Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CPCA).
The leadership of the Fuzhou archdiocese has long been a point of contention between Rome and Beijing. After the 2018 deal, a significant portion of Fuzhou’s clergy remained loyal to the underground Church, refusing to align with the CPCA. Lin’s predecessor, Archbishop Peter Lin Jiashan (no relation), was a prominent underground bishop who spent years in a forced labor camp in the 1980s. Appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010, he was only recognized by the Chinese government in 2020, three years before his death in 2023.
In contrast, recent episcopal appointments in China have highlighted Beijing’s assertive approach. On April 29, 2025, the Diocese of Xinxiang announced the “election” of Fr. Li Janlin as bishop, coordinated by the CPCA during the sede vacante period following Pope Francis’ death. This move, conducted without a sitting pope, has not been formally acknowledged by the Vatican. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State and architect of the Vatican-China deal, suggested that Li’s installation may have been pre-approved by Pope Francis, but no official confirmation has been issued. Complicating matters, Bishop Joseph Zhang Weizhu, appointed by Pope St. John Paul II in 1991, remains the Vatican-recognized Bishop of Xinxiang, operating underground without state recognition.
The Vatican-China deal, last renewed in October 2024 for three years, has aimed to bridge the divide between the underground Church and the state-approved CPCA. However, Beijing’s unilateral actions, such as Li’s “election,” underscore ongoing tensions. Lin’s appointment, initiated by Rome and accepted by Beijing, suggests a potential evolution in the agreement’s implementation, prioritizing papal authority while navigating China’s complex religious landscape.
Raju Hasmukh with Sources from:
The Pillar, interviews with senior clerics in mainland China, June 2025.
Holy See Press Office, “Appointment of the Auxiliary Bishop of Fuzhou,” June 11, 2025.
Vatican-China Agreement, renewed October 2024.
Diocese of Xinxiang, CPCA announcement, April 29, 2025.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, interviews post-conclave, June 2025.
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