Vatican confirms renewal of contested Catholic Church accord with China on bishops’ appointments
- Only six new bishops have been appointed since the deal was struck, which opponents say proves it is not producing desired effects
- Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle says authorities must be convinced ‘belonging to the church does not represent an obstacle to being a good Chinese citizen’
It was the second time the accord, which is still provisional, was extended for another two years since it was first reached in 2018. The latest extension had been widely expected.
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China and the Vatican renew controversial bishops deal after ‘good start’
The Vatican-China deal centres on cooperation over the appointment of bishops, giving the pope the final and decisive say.
Only six new bishops have been appointed since the deal was struck, which its opponents say proves it is not producing the desired effects. They also point to increasing restrictions on religious freedoms in China for Christians and other minorities.
Pope Francis compared the deal’s opponents to those who criticised Popes John XXII and Paul VI in the 1960s and 1970s over the so-called small-steps policy, in which the Vatican struck sometimes uncomfortable deals with Eastern European communist nations to keep the church alive during the Cold War and limit its persecution there.
Beijing tells new Catholic leaders to ‘fend off infiltration by foreign forces’
Official Vatican media ran interviews with two cardinals defending the deal.
Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the accord’s chief architect, said that while the achievements since 2018 “may seem small,” in the context of a conflicted history, they were “important steps toward the progressive healing of the wounds inflicted” on the Chinese church.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, a Filipino whose mother is of Chinese descent, said the challenge was to convince authorities that “belonging to the church does not represent an obstacle to being a good Chinese citizen”.
The Vatican has insisted that the deal is circumscribed to the church structure in mainland China and is not in itself a precursor to establishing full diplomatic relations with Beijing, which would necessitate the Holy See severing ties with Taiwan.
The Vatican is the last state in Europe to recognise Taiwan, which Beijing views as a breakaway province to be brought back to the fold, by force if necessary.
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