Roman Catholic Diocese of Qinzhou

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Qinzhou (formerly spelled Tsinchow; Latin: Dioecesis Zinceuvensis; Chinese: 天主教秦州教區), also known as Diocese of Tianshui according to the government controlled Catholic Patriotic Association, is a Latin Catholic diocese located in Qinzhou, Tianshui, Gansu (formerly Kansu) in the ecclesiastical province of Lanzhou in western China. It was established on April 28, 1905 as an apostolic vicariate.

Diocese of Qinzhou Dioecesis Zinceuvensis 天主教秦州教區 天主教秦州教区
Location
Country	China
Ecclesiastical province	Lanzhou
Metropolitan	Lanzhou
Statistics
Area	45,000 km2 (17,000 sq mi)
Population Total Catholics	(as of 1950) 2,500,000 8,548 (0.3%)
Information
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Sui iuris church	Latin Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	April 28, 1905 (as apostolic vicariate)
Cathedral	Dongguan Cathedral, Tianshui
Patron saint	Fidelis of Sigmaringen[1]
Current leadership
Bishop	John Wang Ruowang
Metropolitan Archbishop	Joseph Han Zhihai

The Diocese of Qinzhou is bordered by the Diocese of Fengxiang and Diocese of Hanzhong to the east, Archdiocese of Lanzhou to the northwest, Diocese of Pingliang to the northeast, Diocese of Kangding to the southwest, and Diocese of Chengdu to the southeast.

History

• April 28, 1905: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Kansu from the Apostolic Vicariate of Kansu
• March 8, 1922: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Eastern Kansu
• December 3, 1924: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Tsinchow
• April 11, 1946.04.11: Promoted as Diocese of Tsinchow

Bishops

Vicars Apostolic of Southern Kansu

• Everard Ter Laak, C.I.C.M. (1905 – May 6, 1914)
• Constantin Daems [zh], C.I.C.M. (1914–1922)

Vicar Apostolic of Tsinchow

• Salvador-Pierre Walleser [zh] (March 28, 1922 – January 1, 1946)

Bishop of Tsinchow

• Peter Gratian Grimm [zh], O.F.M. Cap. (April 21, 1949 – November 17, 1959)

Bishops of Qinzhou

• Casimir Wang Mi-lu (underground bishop; January 28, 1981 – July 24, 2003)
• Acting Bishop John Wang Ruowang (underground bishop; July 24, 2003 – August 19, 2011)
• John Wang Ruowang (underground bishop; August 19, 2011 – present)