The Diocese of Fuzhou celebrated on November 18 an especially significant event: the joint concelebration of Bishops José Cai Bingrui and José Lin Yuntuan, ordinary and auxiliary, during the diaconal ordination of Pedro Ni Pengyu (born on August 5, 1996, and who completed his studies at the National Seminary of Beijing in June 2025). The liturgy took place in the Cathedral of Fuzhou, coinciding with the memorial of the Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul, a date that links the life of the universal Church with its apostolic roots.
According to the report from Fides Agency, the celebration brought together about 70 priests, all the religious sisters who collaborate pastorally in the diocese, numerous lay faithful, and the family of the ordinand. The wide participation expressed the vitality of the community and its desire to strengthen pastoral life.
A moment of communion for a historically divided diocese
The joint presence of the two bishops holds special significance for the Diocese of Fuzhou, whose recent history has been marked by internal divisions arising from complex ecclesial and political circumstances. For decades, the coexistence between communities linked to the “official” Church “recognized by the State” and those belonging to the “clandestine” Church “faithful to Rome but without civil recognition” generated tensions that affected pastoral life, internal governance, and the relationship between priests and the faithful.
These fractures were aggravated by episcopal appointments not always recognized simultaneously by the Chinese government and the Holy See, leading to situations where parallel authorities coexisted at times, divergent pastoral practices, and a distrust that was difficult to overcome.
In this context, the concelebration of Bishops Cai Bingrui and Lin Yuntuan was received as a concrete gesture of reconciliation and a visible sign of unity. For the clergy, the religious sisters, and the lay faithful, the shared liturgy represents a sign of ecclesial unity that strengthens the cohesion of local communities.
Episcopal trajectories in service to the Church in Fujian
The auxiliary Bishop José Lin Yuntuan took possession of his office on June 11, 2025, after being appointed by Pope Leo XIV a few days earlier, on June 5, as part of the dialogue process between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China regarding the appointment of bishops. At the same time, he received the corresponding civil recognition. His trajectory includes decades of service as a parish priest, seminary professor, diocesan administrator, and episcopal delegate. He was ordained bishop on December 28, 2017, and since then has played a key role in the pastoral life of the diocese.
The ordinary Bishop José Cai Bingrui was appointed to the See of Fuzhou on January 15, 2025, also with pontifical approval within the framework of the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and China. Previously, he was bishop of Xiamen, a diocese in which he also served as diocesan administrator. He took canonical possession of the diocese on January 23, 2025. Born in 1966 and trained at the Sheshan Seminary, he was ordained a priest in 1992. His episcopal experience and pastoral profile have positioned him as a reference figure for the Church in the province of Fujian.
The feast of Christ the King, celebrated throughout China
The Sunday, November 23, the feast of Christ the King of the Universe was celebrated with solemnity in all Chinese dioceses. The celebration of this solemnity reminded local communities of the centrality of Christ in the life of the Church and the spiritual dimension that sustains its mission.