The 2018 accord sought to resolve the issue of who has authority to appoint bishops.

The Vatican says the 2018 agreement, renewed until October 2028, is the best deal it could secure despite its undisclosed terms.

Pope Leo XIV made his first appointment of a Chinese bishop under the Vatican’s 2018 agreement with Beijing, signaling he is continuing one of Pope Francis’ most controversial foreign policy decisions.

Pope Leo XIV made his first appointment of a Chinese bishop under the Vatican’s 2018 agreement with Beijing, signalling he is continuing one of Pope Francis’ most controversial foreign policy decisions.

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Chinese Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan as an assistant in Fuzhou, the capital of China's south-eastern Fujian province. It's his first appointment under a controversial accord struck between the Vatican and China in 2018.

By Joshua McElwee VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -A new assistant Catholic bishop was installed on Wednesday for Fuzhou, the capital of China's southeastern Fujian province, signalling that the Vatican's accord with Beijing over Catholic bishop appointments will continue under Pope Leo.

Pope Leo XIV called attention to two important events that fell on May 24: the day of prayer for Catholics in China and the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis' encyclical on the environment.