General
Vatican and China Extend Contentious Agreement on Naming Catholic Bishops
Critics argue the pact legitimizes China’s control over church affairs, while defenders say it helps support Catholics faithful to the Vatican in the Communist country.
The Vatican and China have agreed to extend an agreement aimed at ending a decades-old power struggle over the appointment of Roman Catholic bishops in China, both parties announced Tuesday.
The provisional agreement, struck in 2018 and twice renewed, will be extended for four years, despite concerns from some conservatives in the church about religious liberty and human rights in the Communist country.
Lin Jian, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, confirmed the renewal at a news conference Tuesday in Beijing. He added that the two sides “will maintain talks in a constructive spirit, and continue to promote the improvement of China-Vatican relations.”
In its statement, the Vatican said that it remained dedicated to a “respectful and constructive dialogue” to further develop bilateral relations “for the benefit of the Catholic Church in China and the Chinese people as a whole.”
Though its contents have never been made public, in broad terms the 2018 agreement calls for China to formally recognize the pope’s authority within the Roman Catholic Church and his final say over the country’s bishops. In turn, the Vatican would recognize the legitimacy of bishops previously appointed by the Chinese government and excommunicated by the church.
On Tuesday, the Vatican described on its website, a “radically changed scenario” since the deal was first signed, noting that 10 bishops had been appointed and consecrated, and that China had officially recognized “the public role of several previously unrecognized bishops.”
