On January 23, 2025, the Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis had approved the appointment of Bishop Joseph Cai Bingrui, transferring him from the Diocese of Xiamen to the Diocese of Fuzhou in the southeastern province of Fujian, China.

This transfer was made official when Bishop Cai took possession of the Fuzhou diocese that same day.

A Significant Move Under the Vatican-China Agreement

The Vatican shared that the decision to transfer Bishop Cai was made following a review of his candidacy by Pope Francis, and the appointment is in line with the “Provisional Agreement,” also referred to as the Vatican-China deal.

This agreement governs the selection of bishops in China, and Bishop Cai’s approval took place on January 15, 2025.

Bishop Cai’s Journey in the Church

Bishop Cai, 59 years old, has a long history with the Catholic Church in China.

He was consecrated as the Bishop of Xiamen in 2010, a role he held with both papal and government approval after serving as the diocesan administrator since 1996.

Cai, who grew up in a Catholic family, was ordained as a priest in 1992, beginning a lifelong journey of service within the church.

Pope Francis Appoints New Bishop for Recently Established Diocese in China

In addition to Bishop Cai’s appointment, the Vatican made another announcement last week, revealing the creation of a new diocese in China.

Father Anthony Ji Weizhong was named as the first bishop of this newly established diocese, marking another significant step for the Catholic Church in the region.