Zhangjiakou: The Catholic Church in China has entered a new chapter in its delicate path of dialogue with state authorities as Bishop Giuseppe Ma Yan’en formally assumed his role as Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Zhangjiakou. The Vatican described his civil recognition and installation as “a fruit of dialogue between the Holy See and the Chinese authorities,” marking further progress in the implementation of the Provisional Agreement on episcopal appointments.
The Diocese of Zhangjiakou, created by Pope Leo XIV on July 8 through the merger of the historic dioceses of Xiwanzi and Xuanhua, is steadily taking institutional shape. Only two days after Bishop Joseph Wang Zhengu was consecrated as the first diocesan bishop, the auxiliary appointment of Bishop Ma Yan’en adds further stability to the structure.
The 65-year-old prelate, previously Bishop of Xiwanzi, brings decades of pastoral leadership to his new position. Born in Baoding in 1960, Ma Yan’en was ordained to the priesthood in 1985 for the Apostolic Prefecture of Yixian, where he rose to the post of Vicar General. His episcopal journey began in January 2010 when he was ordained bishop, and by March 2013 he had canonically assumed leadership of Xiwanzi.
Confirming the development, Holy See Press Office Director Matteo Bruni said the recognition of Ma Yan’en’s episcopal role under Chinese civil law was a positive outcome. “It is received with satisfaction that today, on the occasion of the assumption of office as Auxiliary Bishop of Zhangjiakou by Joseph Ma Yan’en, his episcopal ministry has also been recognised within the framework of civil law,” Bruni noted.
The Vatican statement also highlighted the acknowledgment of the episcopal dignity of Monsignor Augustine Cui Tai, Bishop Emeritus of Xuanhua, whose civil recognition reinforces continuity with the diocese’s past.
“These events, the fruit of dialogue between the Holy See and the Chinese authorities,” Bruni concluded, “represent a significant step in the journey of communion of the new Diocese.”
The developments underscore both the challenges and opportunities within the Vatican China relationship, where each gesture of recognition signals a careful balancing act between faith, governance, and mutual respect. For the Catholics of Zhangjiakou, the installation of Bishop Ma Yan’en alongside Bishop Wang Zhengu stands as a visible sign of unity, stability, and hope for the future of the local Church.