Bishop of Hangzhou
JOSEPH YANG YONGQUIANG Bishop Joseph Yang Yongqiang, who will participate in the assembly of the Synod of Bishops next October by papal appointment, had already participated in the previous Synodal Assembly in October 2023, together with another Chinese bishop from mainland China, Anthony Yao Shen. Bishop Yang took office on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in the episcopal see of Hangzhou, capital of the Chinese province of Zhejiang. He had been transferred to Hanghzhou from the See of Zhoucun by appointment of Pope Francis. The Vatican Press Office bulletin, published five days earlier, said: "In the context of the dialogue regarding the application of the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China, on 12 June 2024, the Holy Father appointed Bishop Joseph Yang Yongqiang as bishop of Hangzhou, Chinese Province of Zhejiang, transferring him from the see of Zhoucun, Chinese Province of Shandong." On the day of his inauguration in Hangzhou, Joseph Yang said his task will be to guide priests and lay people to promote an integral transmission of the Catholic faith and to proclaim the Gospel in Hangzhou. Joseph Yang Yongqiang was born on 11 April 1970 in Boxing, Shandong. He carried out his studies in philosophy and theology at the Holy Spirit Seminary of Shandong, and at the seminary of Sheshan in Shanghai. On 5 June 1995 he received priestly ordination. After carrying out the ministry of parish priest, he was sent to further his formation at the National Seminary of Beijing. He subsequently held the office of 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. On 12 June 2024, Pope Francis appointed him bishop of Hangzhou. In an exclusive interview with Fides (see Fides, 16/11/2023), Bishop Yang said he felt "truly honored" to have been invited to take part in the October meeting of the Synod of Bishops in Rome and to have had "the opportunity to speak about my journey of faith and at the same time listen to others". In the interview, the bishop described his calling to the priesthood as follows: "I think my vocation comes early in my life because I am from a traditional Catholic family and the faith of the elder in the family has a big influence on me, especially my grandmother. I remember she asked us to read the prayers every night and we were also required to kowtow in front of the statues or the pictures of God, Virgin Mary, St. Joseph or other Saints before going to sleep. Then she herself would continue to recite the prayers until late at night." "My mother," the bishop continued, "once went on a pilgrimage to Mount of Our Lady in Huzhuang. When she came back, she told us that she saw some young seminarians sitting and reading in Jinan West Gate Church, quiet and self-disciplined. She talked about it as her eyes lighted up. Her words were etched into my heart, and a seed of priesthood was planted." In the interview, the new Bishop of Huangzhou also quoted a passage from "De Imitatione Christi" that had inspired him on his journey: "Refrain from unnecessary talk. As much as possible, stay away from the hustle and bustle of people. For even if one deals with it with pure intention, the hustle and bustle of worldly affairs is a great obstacle, because one is soon polluted by vanities and reduced to slavery. More than once I wish I had kept quiet and not gone out among the people." The diocese of Hanghzou is home to 30,000 Catholics.