The Holy See has learned with satisfaction that today, 27 August 2024, Bishop Melchior Shi Hongzhen has been officially recognized under civil law as bishop of Tianjin (Municipality of Tianjin, People's Republic of China). This measure is a positive fruit of the dialogue established over the years between the Holy See and the Chinese Government.

Bishop Melchior Shi Hongzhen was born on 7 October 1929, ordained a priest on 4 July 1954 and consecrated coadjutor bishop of Tianjin on 15 June 1982, succeeding Bishop Stephen Li Side on 8 June 2019. The diocese of Tianjin has approximately 56,000 faithful, distributed in 21 parishes, served by 62 priests and a good number of religious sisters.