Suppression of the apostolic prefecture of Yiduxian and erection of the diocese of Weifang, China, and consecration of the first bishop of Weifang, China

Suppression of the apostolic prefecture of Yiduxian and erection of the diocese of Weifang, China

With the desire to promote the pastoral care of Lord’s flock, and to attend better to its spiritual welfare, on 20 April 2023, the Supreme Pontiff Francis decided to suppress in Continental China the apostolic prefecture of Yiduxian, which was erected on 16 June 1931 by Pope Pius XI, taking territory from the apostolic vicariate of Zhifu (present-day diocese of Yantai), and at the same time to erect the new diocese of Weifang, as a suffragan of Jinan, province of Shandong, with its episcopal see in the Cathedral Church of Christ the King, located in Qingzhou, city of Weifang.

The ecclesiastical boundaries of the new diocese will included the following areas: the quarters of Weicheng, Hanting, Fangzi and Kuiwen; the four “zones” of communal development; the counties of Linu and Changle; the cities of Qingzhou, Zhucheng, Shouguang, Angiu, Gaomi and Changyi.

Instead, the eastern part of the quarters of Laiwu will be incorporated in the archdiocese of Jinan; whereas the quarters of Boshane, Linzi, the counties of Guangrao, Boxing and Gaoging will be incorporated in the diocese of Zhoucun.

In this way, the territory of the diocese of Weifang conforms to that of the principal city of Weifang, with a total area of 16,167.23 km2 and a total population of 9,386,705 inhabitants, of whom, around 6000 are Catholics, served by ten priests and six religious sisters.

Consecration of first bishop of Weifang, China

Today, Monday 29 January 2024, the episcopal ordination of the Reverend Antonio Sun Wenjun took place. The Reverend Sun Wenjun was appointed by the Holy Father on 20 April 2023 as bishop of Weifang, in the Chinese province of Shandong, within the framework of the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China.

Curriculum vitae

The Reverend Antonio Sun Wenjun was born in November 1970. He studied at the seminary of Sheshan, in Shanghai, from 1989 to 1994. He was ordained a priest in 1995 in the parish of Xishiku in Beijing. He subsequently provided pastoral service in Shandong from 2005 to 2007. Between 2007 and 2008 he pursued his personal formation in Ireland. Upon his return to Weifang, he continued his ministry there.