Msgr Thomas Chen Tianhao was appointed bishop of Qingdao (Shandong) on Nov. 29. 2020.
His Episcopal ordination took place at cathedral of St. Michael which was presided over by Msgr. Fan Xingyao of Linyi, president of the National Chinese Patriotic Association.
Many high-ranking members of the Patriotic Association attended the ceremony as newly ordained himself was president of the Patriotic Association of Qingdao, and since 2010 he has been a member of the Standing Committee of the National Patriotic Association.
According to experts, this appointment would be the first episcopal ordination to take place following the modalities prepared in the Provisional Agreement between China and the Holy See.
He succeeds Msgr. Giuseppe Li Mingshu, who died in June 2018.
Bishop Chen Tianhao was born in Pingdu (Shandong) in 1962. He studied in the Holy Spirit seminary in Shandong and in December 1989 was ordained a priest.