The Vatican today, January 20 announced the suppression of the Diocese of Fenyang and the creation of the new Diocese of Lüliang, situated in Shanxi Province.
This restructuring, aimed at enhancing pastoral care and spiritual support for the Catholic community, was decreed by Pope Francis on 28 October 2024, with the new diocese formally established today.
The Diocese of Fenyang, originally erected in 1946 by Pope Pius XII, has now been suppressed, and its territories have been reorganised to form the Diocese of Lüliang. The new diocese, a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Taiyuan, encompasses the prefecture-level city of Lüliang and its surrounding districts, covering an area of 21,000 square kilometres.
This region is home to approximately 3.3 million people, including 20,000 Catholics, who will now be served by 51 priests and 26 religious sisters. The episcopal see of Lüliang will be located in the Cathedral Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which has long been a central hub of Catholic life in the area.
The reorganisation also saw certain counties from the former Diocese of Fenyang reassigned to neighbouring dioceses. Kelan and Jingle were incorporated into the Archdiocese of Taiyuan, while Pingyao and Jiexiu joined the Diocese of Yuci.
The announcement was coupled with the ordination of Lüliang’s first bishop, Reverend Anthony Ji Weizhong, who was consecrated today, January 20, 2025. Bishop Ji, who has served the Church in the region for over two decades, was appointed by Pope Francis following the approval of his candidacy in accordance with the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China.
Bishop Ji, born in Wenshui, Shanxi, on 3 August 1973, was ordained a priest in 2001 for the Diocese of Fenyang. He has held various roles within the diocese, including deputy parish priest, head of the diocesan Pastoral Centre, and vicar general. His extensive academic background in theology, including studies in Beijing, Xi’an, and Sankt Augustin, Germany, has equipped him with the knowledge and experience needed to lead the newly established diocese.