The Vatican and China have jointly approved the ordination of a new Catholic bishop in the country's northern Inner Mongolia region, filling a vacancy that had lasted nearly two decades. Joseph Chang Yanfeng was ordained as bishop of Chifeng on Wednesday, according to reports from Vatican News. His appointment was approved by Pope Leo XIV on June 15, under the terms of a provisional agreement signed in 2018 between the Holy See and Beijing. The ordination marks a significant step in the ongoing, delicate diplomatic engagement between the two sides over the sensitive issue of Catholic appointments in China. The Chifeng diocese had been without a bishop for almost 20 years. The 2018 agreement allows both the Vatican and the Chinese government to have a say in the selection of bishops, though tensions remain over the balance of authority. The ordination is seen as a sign of continued dialogue, despite underlying disagreements.