Rome and Beijing renew agreement on episcopal appointment for another four years
The agreement has been officially extended until October 2028, ten years since the first signing. The duration is extended but the text remains provisional and secret, while a third of China’s dioceses are still vacant. As AsiaNews reported, the ordination of a coadjutor bishop for the diocese of Beijing is set for 25 October.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – The duration of the agreement between the Holy See and China on episcopal appointments is set to double, from two to four years, but the document remains provisional and secret.
As expected, at the end of the second two-year renewal signed in October 2022, a new extension was announced today.
The Vatican Press Office broke the news with a short statement stating that, “In light of the consensus reached for an effective application” and “after appropriate consultation and assessment,” the agreement is extended for four years, that is, until 22 October 2028, ten years after the first signing.
“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 press release added.
The spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Lin Jian, also mentioned the renewal of the agreement this morning during the daily press conference.
“Both China and the Vatican have given positive evaluations on the results of implementing this agreement,” Lin said answering a question from the government-owned China Daily. “The two sides will maintain talks with a constructive spirit and continue to promote the improvement of China-Vatican relations.”
The Chinese government wanted to make the agreement permanent, while the Holy See insisted on its provisional nature and the need to clarify some points. In the end, going from two to four years appears to be a compromise solution.
It should be noted that in the past two years the agreement has experienced its greatest challenge when Chinese authorities unilaterally moved Bishop Shen Bin to Shanghai in April 2023.
That rift was mended three months later when Pope Francis confirmed the appointment, which was accompanied by an interview by Secretary of State Pietro Parolin with Vatican media in which he asked Beijing for a "sincere dialogue."
After this crisis, the situation has improved over the past year, and by virtue of this, three new bishops were appointed in January 2024, while two pastors from the People's Republic of China are taking part in the Synodal Assembly currently underway in Rome.
So far, nine bishops have been appointed since the agreement was first inked six years ago, while more than 30 dioceses remain vacant, a third of all the dioceses in China.
During the same period of time, eight "underground" bishops have been officially recognised by Chinese authorities, but others are still being prevented from exercising their ministry because of their refusal to join Communist Party-led bodies.
As AsiaNews reported a few days ago, an important appointment is expected in the next few hours; the Diocese of Beijing has in fact announced the ordination next Friday of Matthew Zhen Xuebin, 54, as coadjutor. He will join Archbishop Joseph Li Shan, in office since 2007, who is just five years older than his assistant and chairs the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association.
Although Mgr Zhen Xuebin’s appointment has not yet been announced, it will take place in accordance with the agreement, and, in all likelihood, will be made public by the Holy See on the day of the ordination, like for all new Chinese bishops, and will thus represent a very important step for the Catholic Church in China.
Photo: Francis with one of the Chinese bishops at the Synod, Archbishop Joseph Yang Yongqiang (Vatican News)
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16/07/2020 13:26
