Bishop Antonio Ji Weizhong was ordained in Shanxi under the Vatican-China Provisional Agreement. The ordination ceremony was presided over by Bishop Meng Ningyou of Taiyuan, who also serves as vice president of the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association.
Vatican City (01/22/2025 10:02, Gaudium Press) The appointment of bishops under the framework of the Provisional Agreement between Rome and Beijing has resumed in Shanxi Province, northern China.
On January 20, a ceremony was held at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Fenyang to ordain the new bishop, Bishop Antonio Ji Weizhong. The 51-year-old priest, who previously served as the vicar general of the local Church, was appointed to fill the vacancy left by the late Bishop John Huo Cheng. Bishop Huo, who endured 14 years of imprisonment during the Cultural Revolution, had led the Church in Fenyang in communion with the Holy See since 1991.
The ordination ceremony was presided over by Bishop Meng Ningyou of Taiyuan, who also serves as vice president of the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association. Concelebrants included Bishop Ding Lingbin of Changzhi, Bishop Liu Genzhu of Linfen, and Bishop Ma Cunguo of Shuozhou. The event was attended by approximately 450 people, including 130 priests from dioceses across China, religious sisters, seminarians, and lay faithful.
The Holy See confirmed that Bishop Ji Weizhong’s candidacy was approved under the terms of the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China. Pope Francis had formally approved the appointment on October 28 of the previous year, shortly after the agreement’s third renewal for another four years. The Vatican also announced changes to the diocese’s name and boundaries. It will now be known as the Diocese of Luliang, aligning with the administrative limits of Luliang prefecture, as insisted upon by Chinese authorities.
Changes to the Diocese of Luliang
According to the Vatican Press Office, the Diocese of Luliang now corresponds to the territory of Luliang prefecture, covering an area of 21,000 square kilometers with a population of 3.35 million people. Among them, approximately 20,000 are Catholics, served by 51 priests and 26 religious sisters.
Background of Bishop Ji Weizhong
Bishop Antonio Ji Weizhong was born on August 3, 1973, in Wenshui County, Luliang. From 1995 to 2001, he studied theology and philosophy at the National Catholic Seminary in Beijing and was ordained a priest in October 2001 for the Diocese of Fenyang. Between 2005 and 2010, he earned a licentiate in dogmatic theology from the Sankt Augustin University of the Society of the Divine Word in Germany. Upon his return, he served as an associate pastor, pastoral center director, and finally as vicar general. On July 19, 2024, he was elected bishop, with Pope Francis confirming his appointment soon after.
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj
