Chow will lead a delegation to Beijing under the invitation last year by the Bishop of Beijing, Joseph Li Shan. The delegation included Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing, Vicars General Choy Wai-man, and Chow's personal assistant Wong Ka-chun.

Father Matthew Zhen Xuebin, secretary-general of the Catholic Church of the Beijing diocese, said it is a normal exchange event between the two churches.

Pope Francis named Chow as bishop of Hong Kong in May 2021 -- a long-delayed appointment amid growing Western concern over human rights and freedoms in the city.

The last time an incumbent Hong Kong bishop visited Beijing was in 1994, when John Baptist Wu Cheng-Chung visited Beijing upon the Religious Affairs Bureau of the State Council's invitation.