Zhangjiakou: The Church in China witnessed a historic moment on Wednesday with the episcopal consecration of Bishop Joseph Wang Zhengui, the first shepherd of the newly created Diocese of Zhangjiakou. His appointment and ordination mark the culmination of a significant reorganization of ecclesiastical territories in northern China, authorized by Pope Leo XIV two months ago in line with the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the Chinese government.
The decision to restructure the dioceses came on July 8, 2025, when Pope Leo XIV decreed the suppression of the dioceses of Xuanhua and Xiwanzi both established by Pope Pius XII in 1946 and the erection of the Diocese of Zhangjiakou as a suffragan see of Beijing. The episcopal seat of the new diocese will be located at Zhangjiakou’s Cathedral Church, a move intended to strengthen pastoral care and streamline ecclesiastical governance in the region.
A statement from the Holy See Press Office explained the purpose of the restructuring: “With the desire to promote the pastoral care of the Lord’s flock and to attend more effectively to its spiritual good, the Holy Father has established the new Diocese of Zhangjiakou in harmony with the local ecclesial and civic realities.”
On the same day the diocese was erected, Pope Leo XIV appointed Father Joseph Wang Zhengui as its first bishop, with his candidacy approved under the framework of the Vatican–China Provisional Agreement.
Born on November 19, 1962, Bishop Wang pursued seminary studies in Hebei from 1984 to 1988. After pastoral training in Qujiazhuang, he was ordained a priest on May 24, 1990, for the Diocese of Xianxian. He went on to serve as parish priest in Qujiazhuang in 1991 and later exercised pastoral ministry in the Diocese of Xuanhua. His long years of service and experience now find new expression in his leadership of Zhangjiakou’s Catholic community.
The Diocese of Zhangjiakou covers an area of 36,357 square kilometers with a population of over 4 million, of whom approximately 85,000 are Catholics. It is served by 89 priests who will now come under Bishop Wang’s pastoral guidance.
According to the Holy See, the new diocese incorporates the districts of Xuanhua, Qiaodong, Xiahuayuan, Chongli, Qiaoxi, and Wanquan, along with the counties of Chicheng, Huailai, Zhuolu, Weixian, Yangyuan, Huai’an, Shangyi, Zhangbei, Guyuan, and Kangbao. This alignment allows the diocese to mirror the civic boundaries of Zhangjiakou city, ensuring closer coordination between ecclesiastical and civic structures.
Meanwhile, the district of Yanqing has been reassigned to the Archdiocese of Beijing, while Xilinguolemeng city now forms part of the Diocese of Jining.
The episcopal consecration of Bishop Wang stands as a visible fruit of ongoing dialogue between the Holy See and the Chinese government. It reflects both continuity with the Church’s long missionary presence in northern China and adaptation to present realities, ensuring that pastoral structures remain dynamic and effective.
As Bishop Wang begins his episcopal ministry, the Catholic faithful of Zhangjiakou look forward to renewed spiritual leadership, grounded in service, unity, and the proclamation of the Gospel in a rapidly evolving society.