Pope Leo XIV appoints new bishop in China under bilateral deal

Pope Leo XIV has named Giuseppe Chang Yanfeng as the new bishop of Chifeng, China, under the provisional agreement between the Holy See and Beijing. The ordination took place on July 22, 2026, after the pope approved his candidacy on June 15. Source: ABC.es, Infobae

The appointment

• Chang Yanfeng, 42, was ordained priest in 2010 and had served as diocesan administrator of Chifeng since 2021. Source: ABC.es
• The Vatican's Fides agency described him as dedicated to evangelization and community life. Source: ABC.es
• In contrast, the Chinese Patriotic Church website reported the ordination but omitted any mention of papal approval, instead citing approval from the non-recognized Chinese Catholic Bishops' Conference. Source: ABC.es

The broader context

• This is the third bishop appointed by Pope Leo XIV since his election, continuing the 2018 agreement that allows joint selection of bishops. Source: Infobae
• The agreement has enabled over a dozen ordinations and the recognition of previously "clandestine" bishops, though challenges remain, including the persistence of underground church groups. Source: ABC.es, Infobae
• The Holy See and China have no diplomatic relations since 1951. The accord, renewed in 2024 until 2028, aims to normalize church-state relations.