VATICAN (Fides): Reverend Francis Xavier Duan Yongkun was ordained coadjutor bishop of Bameng, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China, on July 29. He was appointed by Pope Leo XIV on June 15, under the Provisional Agreement on the Appointment of Bishops, which was reached between the Holy See and Beijing in 2018 during pontificate of Pope Francis.
He was born on 6 December 1980 in Hangjin Houqi, Inner Mongolia. From 2000 to 2007 he attended the Hebei Theological Seminary. From 2008 to 2013, he studied at Peking University and Beijing Foreign Studies University. Then on 1 January 2011, he was ordained a priest for the diocese of Bameng.
From 2013 to 2016, he continued his studies at Fujen Catholic University in Taiwan. Upon returning, he served as director of the local formation centre from 2016 to 2020.
He was subsequently appointed vicar general of the diocese and parish priest of the diocesan cathedral.
Accroding to UCAN, Bishop Paul Meng Qinglu of Hohhot presided over the ordination ceremony. Co-consecrators were Bishop Joseph Yang Xiaoting of Yulin, Bishop Matthias Du Jiang of Bameng, Bishop Anthony Yao Shun of Wulanchabu and Bishop Joseph Chang Yanfeng of Chifeng, who was ordained a week earlier, on July 22 [Sunday Examiner, August 2].
