A Chinese bishop has been ordained to lead Datong diocese in the northern province of Shanxi, the latest episcopal consecration under the Vatican-Beijing agreement on the appointment of bishops. Source: UCANews/Fides.
Bishop Paul Liu Honggang was ordained on August 31 at the cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Pingcheng district of Shanxi province, the Vatican’s Fides news service reported.
The report said Pope Leo XIV appointed Liu on August 10 after approving his candidacy “within the framework of the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China”.
Bishop Liu is the 17th Chinese bishop ordained or recognised by the Vatican since the Sino-Vatican deal was signed in 2018, initially for two years and renewed in 2020 and 2022. In October, 2024, the deal was reportedly extended to another four years.
Six new bishops have been ordained since the pontificate of Pope Leo began on May 8, 2025.
Bishop Joseph Shen Bin of Shanghai, chairman of the state-sanctioned Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China (BCCCC) and vice-chairman of the state-aligned Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA), presided over the ceremony.
Four bishops from Shanxi province — Peter Ding Lingbin of Changzhi, Peter Liu Genzhu of Linfen, Paul Ma Cunguo of Shuozhou and Anthony Ji Weizhong of Lüliang — concelebrated the Mass.
More than 200 people, including priests, religious women and lay Catholics, attended the ceremony.
Bishop Liu was born on November 2, 1970, in Wufuying village near Taiyuan. He studied at Fenyang Seminary from 1988 to 1992 and later at the National Seminary in Beijing, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in theology.
He was ordained a priest for Datong on Nov. 24, 1996, and served in several parishes before becoming diocesan administrator on March 15, 2005.
FULL STORY
New bishop ordained under China-Vatican deal (UCANews)
RELATED COVERAGE
Paul Liu Honggang ordained Bishop of Datong (By Marta Zhao, Agenzia Fides)
