BEIJING (AsiaNews/AsiaNews): Following the consecration of Bishop Wang Yuesheng in Zhengzhou, Henan province, Father Anthony Sun Wenjun was consecrated bishop of Weifang, Shandong province, on January 25, with the approval of the Holy See.
The 53-year-old was appointed by Pope Francis on 20 April 2023, in the context of the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China. The pope also suppressed the Apostolic Prefecture of Yiduxian and erected the Diocese of Weifang encompassing the principal city of Weifang, according to Vatican News.
The apostolic prefecture became vacant with the death of Bishop Joseph Sun Zhibin on 24 April 1988.
The consecration ceremony took place in the church of Qingzhou. The service was led by Bishop John Fang Xingyao of Linyi, honourary president of the Catholic Patriotic Association. The co-consecrators were Bishop Joseph Yang Yongqiang of Zhoucun, and Archbishop Joseph Zhang Xianwang of Jinang.
Vatican News reported that The Holy See Press Office provided a brief profile of the new bishop: “The Reverend Anthony Sun Wenjun was born in November 1970. He studied at the seminary of Sheshan, in Shanghai, from 1989 to 1994. He was ordained a priest in 1995 in the parish of Xishiku in Beijing. He subsequently provided pastoral service in Shandong from 2005 to 2007. Between 2007 and 2008 he pursued his personal formation in Ireland. Upon his return to Weifang, he continued his ministry there.”
