Vatican (Fides): Pope Francis appointed Bishop Joseph Yang Yongqiang as bishop of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China, on June 12, transferring him from the Diocese of Zhoucun in Shandong.
Bishop Yang, one of two Chinese bishops who participated in the synod last October, was born on 11 April 1970 in Boxing, Shandong. He studied philosophy and theology at the Holy Spirit Seminary of Shandong, and at the seminary of Sheshan in Shanghai.
On 5 June 1995 was ordained a priest. After a time as a parish priest, he furthered his formation at the National Seminary of Beijing. He subsequently was a lecturer at the Holy Spirit Seminary of Shandong. He was appointed coadjutor bishop of Zhoucun, and consecrated on 15 November 2010. On 8 February 2013 he succeeded Bishop Ma Xuesheng.
