Beijing confirms the existence of "contacts" between China and the Holy See
In an interview with China Daily, the director of the Religious Affairs Bureau confirms what has already been said by Cardinal Sodano and Archbishop Lajolo. Conditions remain on Taiwan and nomination of bishops, even though it seems a slight opening may be in the offing.
Rome (AsiaNews) For the first time, the Chinese government has publicly admitted that contacts exist between China and the Vatican on the question of diplomatic relations. Not without leaving what may be a slight opening on the question of the nomination of bishops, the director of the Religious Affairs Bureau reaffirmed the two traditional pre-conditions on severing ties with Taiwan and non-interference in China's internal affairs.
During a seminar at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Ye Xiaowen, Director of the State Administration for Religious Affairs said yesterday in a statement to China Daily that "the contact between us [Editor's note: Beijing and Vatican] has been continuing all along but it is hard to set a timetable."
Ye's statements an absolute first on Beijing's part came a few days after those of Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, the Vatican's secretary for relations with states. Last March 24, on the occasion of the consistory in which Joseph Zen, Bishop of Hong Kong, was created cardinal, Archbishop Lajolo had said that "the time is ripe" to reestablish diplomatic relations with Beijing. In two long interviews with South China Morning Post and I-Cable TV of Hong Kong, the Vatican's "foreign minister" had also spoken of "informal contacts", underscoring that "while authorities at the highest level are showing a desire to normalize relations, there are people pulling in the opposite direction at intermediate levels."
In the interview yesterday with China Daily, reported also in today's People's Daily, Ye Xiaowen wonders if the Vatican is ready to accept the two conditions set by Beijing. For over 15 years, China has been demanding that, as pre-conditions, the Vatican break its ties with Taiwan and refrain from interfering in the country's internal affairs. "We can establish diplomatic relations with the Vatican very soon," Ye said, "if the two principles are accepted But it is very hard for us to do so if the principles are violated."
Even though China has never demanded in the case of other states (such as South Korea) that relations with Taiwan be broken as a pre-condition, but only as a step to be taken at the end of the process, the Vatican, as stated by Secretary of State Angelo Sodano and Archbishop Lajolo, has already said on various occasions that the Nunciature in Taipei is actually the one to Beijing, having been transferred there following the expulsion of the nuncio in 1951 and Mao's refusal to readmit him to China in 1952.
The most delicate problem is interference in China's internal affairs, which for Beijing also includes the right to name Catholic bishops. Ye insisted that China wants to have its say on nominations. "We have always been appointing and consecrating our own bishops," he said, "This is what we must stick to."
In reality, China is not able to find candidates to the episcopate who will accept ordination without the Vatican's approval. At least 80% of bishops in the official Church are in communion with the Holy See and the few who are not like the Archbishop of Bejing are rejected by the faithful and marginalized.
An important point to underline: in insisting on the nomination of bishops, Ye has shown himself to be more flexible than on other occasions, stating that the problem "may be open to consultation."
For some time, both on the part of certain figures in the Vatican and on the part of China, a method, similar to that used in Vietnam, is being studied for the naming of bishops, whereby the Holy See presents various names from which the government can then choose. However, many official bishops are not pleased with this solution. In an interview with AsiaNews, one of China's most important official bishops discarded the "Vietnamese solution": "Beijing," said the prelate who wished to remain anonymous, "must give us all the religious freedom that the Chinese constitution guarantees. The nomination and ordination of bishops is part of the sacramental elements of the Church and the state has not right to enter into it."
In the China Daily interview, Ye Xiaowen makes no mention at all of the Bishop of Hong Kong, Joseph Zen who was recently named cardinal. Cardinal Zen is recognized by Christians in China as a defender of religious freedom. Regarding the two pro-conditions set by Beijing, Zen stressed that breaking ties with Taiwan "is not a problem", but can only come about in exchange for China's guarantee of full religious freedom, including the naming of bishops.
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