Vatican and Chinese authorities have extended a controversial agreement on episcopal appointments for a third time, this time for four years instead of the customary two. Source: Crux.
A Vatican statement yesterday said that “In light of the consensus reached for an effective application of the Provisional Agreement regarding the Appointment of Bishops, after appropriate consultation and assessment, the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China have agreed to extend further its validity for four years from the present date.”
“The Vatican Party remains dedicated to furthering the respectful and constructive dialogue with the Chinese Party, in view of the further development of bilateral relations for the benefit of the Catholic Church in China and the Chinese people as a whole,” the statement said.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman announced the renewal of the deal during a regular briefing yesterday, noting that authorities had decided to renew it for a four-year term, rather than a two-year terms.
Struck in 2018, the terms of the deal have never been made public and are thus described as “secret”, but it is believed to allow the Pope to choose from a selection of candidates put forward by Chinese authorities.
It has been renewed twice, with this being the third renewal of the controversial agreement.
Since it was first struck, the accord has been a source of widespread controversy, including from top personalities such as Cardinal Joseph Zen, the retired bishop of Hong Kong, over religious freedom concerns in China, as well as several breeches of the deal by Chinese authorities.
However, supporters of the deal have argued that it was necessary in order to unite the Catholic ecclesial communities in China.
FULL STORY
Vatican, China renew provisional agreement on bishop appointments (By Elise Ann Allen, Crux)
RELATED COVERAGE
Holy See and China extend Provisional Agreement on appointment of bishops (Vatican News)
