Pope erects new diocese in China, names new bishop September 10, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Leo XIV formally suppressed two dioceses in China and erected a new one, which already had been operating without the Vatican’s consent. “With a desire to promote the pastoral care of the Lord’s flock and to attend more effectively to its spiritual well-being,” Pope Leo decided to suppress the dioceses of Xuanhua and Xiwanzi and to erect the new diocese of Zhangjiakou, the Vatican press office said Sept. 10. The two former dioceses had been established by Pope Pius XII in 1946. The Vatican press office said Pope Leo had made the decision July 8, the same day he had nominated as bishop of the new diocese Father Joseph Wang Zhengui, “having approved his candidacy within the framework of the provisional agreement” between the Vatican and the Chinese government. The provisional agreement, which has never been published, was first signed in 2018 and outlines procedures for ensuring that Catholic bishops elected by the Catholic community in China are approved by the pope before their ordinations or installations. The agreement was renewed in October 2024 for a four-year period. The new bishop, 62, received his episcopal ordination Sept. 10, the Vatican said. He had attended the provincial seminary in Hebei and was ordained to the priesthood May 24, 1990, for the Diocese of Xianxian. He later also ministered in the Diocese of Xuanhua. AsiaNews, a news agency promoted by the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, had reported in May 2021 that the Chinese government already recognized Zhangjiakou as a diocese and that while not functioning as a bishop, Father Wang Zhengui already was coordinating pastoral activity there. Most of the territory of the two suppressed dioceses was incorporated into the new Diocese of Zhangjiakou, the Vatican said. Just over 4 million people live within the diocesan boundaries, and about 85,000 of them are Catholics, who are served by 89 priests. Zhangjiakou is about 125 miles northeast of Beijing. Read More Vatican News Embrace ‘deep spiritual bonds’ between Jews and Catholics, says bishop in Yom Kippur message Priests, pastoral leaders have permission to do less, do it better, pope says Pope Leo ends COVID-era salary cuts for cardinals and senior Vatican officials Pope Leo XIV names US bishops’ migration committee chair as new bishop of Joliet, Illinois Vatican document affirms interreligious dialogue as essential to ‘journey of hope’ for humanity Pope Leo warns technology cannot replace the value of human relationships Copyright © 2025 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Print
