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Resignations and Appointments, 20.01.2025

Suppression of the diocese of Fenyang and erection of the diocese of Lüliang, China, and Consecration of the first bishop of Lüliang, China

Resignation and appointment of metropolitan archbishop of Galveston-Houston, U.S.A.

 

Suppression of the diocese of Fenyang and erection of the diocese of Lüliang, China

In the desire to promote the pastoral care of the Lord’s flock and to attend more effectively to its spiritual wellbeing, on 28 October 2024 the Supreme Pontiff Francis decided to suppress the diocese of Fenyang in continental China, which was erected on 11 April 1946 by Pope Pius XII, and at the same time to erect the new diocese of Lüliang, suffragan of Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, with its episcopal see in the Cathedral Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, located in Fenyang, city of Lüliang. The ecclesiastical borders of the new diocese will include the following areas: the quarter of Lishi, the counties of Wenshui, Jiaocheng, Xingxian, Linxian, Liulin, Shilou, Lanxian, Fangshan, Zhongyang, Jiaokou and the city-counties of Xiaoyi and Fenyang. Instead, the counties of Kelan and Jingle are incorporated into the archdiocese of Taiyuan, whereas the counties of Pingyao and Jiexiu are incorporated into the diocese of Yuci. In this way, the territory of the diocese of Lüliang conforms to that of the prefecture-level city of Lüliang, with a total area of 21,000 km2 and a total population of 3,346,500 inhabitants, of whom approximately 20,000 are Catholics, served by 51 priests and 26 religious sisters.

Consecration of the first bishop of Lüliang, China

Today, Monday 20 January 2025, the Reverend Anthony Ji Weizhong was ordained a bishop. The Holy Father appointed the Reverend Anthony Ji Weizhong as bishop of Lüliang (Shanxi Province, China) on 28 October 2024, having approved the candidature in the context of the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China.

Curriculum vitae

The Reverend Anthony Ji Weizhong is originally from Wenshui, Shanxi, where he was born on 3 August 1973. He carried out his studies in theology at the National Seminary of Beijing and was ordained a priest on 14 October 2001 for the diocese of Fenyang. He then carried out his linguistic studies at the University of Xi’an and obtained a licentiate in theology from the University of Sankt Augustin, Germany. He served in Fenyang as deputy parish priest, head of the diocesan Pastoral Centre, and as vicar general.

 

Resignation and appointment of metropolitan archbishop of Galveston-Houston, U.S.A.

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the metropolitan archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, United States of America, presented by His Eminence Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo.

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Joe Steve Vásquez as metropolitan archbishop of Galveston-Houston, United States of America, transferring him from the diocese of Austin, United States of America.

Curriculum vitae

Archbishop-elect Joe Steve Vásquez was born on 19 July 1957 in Stamford, Texas, in the diocese of San Angelo. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Saint Mary’s Seminary in Houston, and a licentiate in theology form the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

He was ordained a priest on 30 June 1984 for the diocese of San Angelo.

He has held the following offices: parish vicar of Saint Joseph in Odessa (1985-1987), parish priest of Saint Vincent in Fort Stockton (1987-1997) and of Saint Joseph in San Angelo (1997-2002).

He was appointed titular bishop of Cova and auxiliary of Galveston-Houston on 30 November 2001, and received episcopal ordination on 23 January 2002. On 26 January 2010 he was appointed bishop of Austin and, since 11 November 2023, he has also served as apostolic administrator sede vacante of the diocese of Tyler.