On June 11, 73-year-old Lin Yuntuan took office as the auxiliary bishop of Fuzhou. The Vatican expressed satisfaction in a brief statement, stating that this was another outcome of dialogue between the Holy See and the Chinese authorities, marking an important step forward.

Lin Yuntuan was appointed as a bishop of the underground church in 2017. Michel Chambon from the Asian Institute in Singapore analyzed that this appointment indicates a desire for reconciliation instead of confrontation. In 2018, a secret agreement was reached between China and the Vatican regarding the appointment of bishops, which has also sparked controversy within the Catholic Church. Some conservative Catholics criticized the agreement reached during the tenure of the former Pope Francis as giving too many concessions to the ruling Chinese Communist Party.

Since taking power in 1949, the CCP has severely repressed religious freedom. According to news published on the official website of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, Lin Yuntuan pledged in the inauguration ceremony to uphold the country's constitution and laws, and to maintain national unity and social harmony. The Vatican estimates that there are about 5 million Catholics in China. Additionally, the agreement on bishop appointments between the Vatican and Beijing has been extended for another four years until October 2024. The contents of the agreement have never been made public, with only a few diplomats providing related information.