By CatholicVote | Created at 2025-01-22 23:41:16 | Updated at 2025-01-23 03:22:44
3 hours ago
CV NEWS FEED // A Chinese episcopal see now has a new bishop, the first appointed under the controversially renewed Provisional Agreement between the Vatican and Chinese Communist authorities.
AsiaNews reported Jan. 20 that Bishop Paul Meng Ningyou, vice president of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, ordained Father Anthony Ji Weizhong that morning as the Bishop of the Diocese of Lüliang, which was formerly known as the Diocese of Fenyang. The Diocese had been without a leader since the death of its previous bishop, Bishop John Huo Cheng, in January 2023.
Bishop Weizhong was ordained to the priesthood in October 2001 for the Diocese of Lüliang and has studied at National Catholic Seminary in Beijing as well as the SVD Saint Augustin University of Philosophy and Theology in Germany. He previously served as a deputy parish priest in the Diocese of Lüliang, as well as the head of the diocesan pastoral center and vicar general. He was chosen as bishop July 19, 2024, and later confirmed by papal appointment.
AsiaNews reported that the Vatican confirmed the appointment of Bishop Weizhong under the Provisional Agreement with China, which facilitates collaboration between the Pope and Chinese authorities to appoint valid bishops in the country. Prior to the Agreement, episcopal appointments were made by the government without the endorsement of the Vatican.
The Agreement, originally signed in 2018, was renewed in October 2024, despite opposition from Cardinal Joseph Zen, who is the former bishop of Hong Kong, and other critics.
“ChinaSource, an independent watchdog on Sino-Vatican relations, argues that the Chinese Communist Party retains significant control over the appointment of bishops, despite Vatican attempts to frame the agreement as a breakthrough for dialogue,” CatholicVote reported at the time.
The Vatican announced its decision to rename the Diocese of Lüliang in October 2024 as well. According to AsiaNews, the renaming of the Diocese also included changing the physical boundaries of the Diocese so they follow “Chinese administrative boundaries.”
AsiaNews added, “This confirms the Vatican’s decision to redraw the geography of local Churches to fit the government’s, a goal pursued by Chinese authorities for some time.”
