China: Pope Francis Establishes Diocese of Lüliang, Appoints Antonio Ji Weizhong as Its First Bishop

Lüliang, China, January 21, 2025: In a significant development for the Catholic Church in China, Pope Francis suppressed the Diocese of Fenyang and established the Diocese of Lüliang, appointing Antonio Ji Weizhong as its first bishop. The episcopal ordination of Ji Weizhong as bishop took place on Monday, January 20, 2025, at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Fenyang, as per a statement issued by The Holy See Press Office.

The Holy See's statement emphasized that the creation of the new diocese of Lüliang aims to "promote the pastoral care of the Lord’s flock and more effectively attend to its spiritual good." The diocese, which will function as a suffragan diocese under the Archdiocese of Taiyuan, spans Lüliang City in Shanxi Province, covering a total area of 21,000 square kilometers. It will serve approximately 20,000 Catholics and has 51 priests and 26 nuns. The episcopal seat of the diocese will be located at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Fenyang, a city within Lüliang.

Bishop Ji Weizhong, born in Wenshui, Shanxi, in 1973, brings extensive experience to his new role. He completed his theological studies at the National Seminary in Beijing, and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Fenyang on October 14, 2001.

He furthered his education by studying languages at Xi’an University and earning a Licentiate in Theology from the University of Sankt Augustin in Germany. In Fenyang, he served as a vice-parish priest, director of the Diocesan Pastoral Center, and vicar general. He was appointed as Bishop of Lüliang by Pope Francis on October 28, 2024, after “his candidacy was approved within the framework of the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China.”

Reacting to his appointment, Bishop Ji Weizhong expressed his gratitude and commitment, saying, “I am deeply honored by this appointment and will dedicate myself to serving the faithful with humility and devotion.”

The ecclesiastical boundaries of the Diocese of Lüliang will encompass the Lishi District, the counties of Wenshui, Jiaocheng, Xingxian, Linxian, Liulin, Shilou, Lanxian, Fangshan, Zhongyang, Jiaokou, and the cities of Xiaoyi and Fenyang. The Holy See further clarified that the counties of Kelan and Jingle will now belong to the Archdiocese of Taiyuan, while Pingyao and Jiexiu will join the Diocese of Yuci.

The Holy See Press Office reiterated the importance of this restructuring, stating, “This arrangement ensures that the Diocese of Lüliang’s territory aligns with that of Lüliang City, enhancing the Church’s ability to serve its faithful effectively.”

Courtesy: Vatican News