‘In the light of the consensus reached for the effective application of the provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops, after appropriate consultation and evaluation, The Holy See and the People's Republic of China have agreed to further extend its validity by 4 years starting today," informed the Press Office of the Holy See
"The Vatican organization inactive intends to proceed a respectful and constructive dialog with the Chinese side with a view to developing bilateral relations, bearing in head the interests of the Catholic Church in the country and the full Chinese people," the Communication states.
The agreement was first concluded in 2018, for a period of 2 years. To date, they have always been extended for another 2 years; the current decision so means that both parties have come to the conclusion of a comparatively good functioning.
The agreement has been criticised respective times, especially in the context of any Beijing movements looking from the position of a abroad observer to be self-free. The Holy See admitted that relations with the mediate State were difficult; but the chief architect of the cardinal agreement. Pietro Parolin stressed in interviews that even an imperfect agreement is better than a deficiency of agreement.
For example, in November 2022 China appointed as the Auxiliary Bishop of Jiangxi Diocese of Bishop John Peng Weizhao. As the Vatican commented, this event "did not take place in accordance with the spirit of the existing dialog between the Vatican and Chinese side and by a temporary agreement on the appointment of bishops concluded on 22 September 2018". The Holy See besides pointed out in the Communication that the appointment of Bishop Peng preceded “long and strong force from local authorities”. "The Holy See expresses its desire not to repeat akin episodes and looks forward to appropriate information on this issue from local authorities, and reaffirms its full readiness to proceed a dialog of respect and concern for all matters of common interest", announced the Vatican Communication.
Only a period earlier, a secret agreement was extended. This means that the Chinese deliberately did not make violent movements before this moment: erstwhile the agreement was extended, they immediately violated it. The mediocre reaction of the Vatican encouraged them to do akin things.
April 4, 2023 China has established a fresh bishop of Shanghai without the approval of the Holy See. It was Bishop Shen Bin, formerly the average of Haimen Diocese. The bishop was indicated by the Council of Bishops controlled by the communists. It is not known whether Beijing asked the Vatican at all and the Pope vetoed the candidacy, or whether the action was immediately taken. Anyway, the Chinese are on their way.
In July of that year, the Vatican approved the communist decision. "The Holy Father appointed Bishop Joseph Shen Bin bishop of Shanghai, mainland China, moving him from Haimen diocese in Jiangsu Province," said the Press Office of the Holy See. The case sparked a large resonance due to the fact that Shanghai is the most crucial and prestigious Chinese diocese.
Card. Pietro Parolin felt obliged to explain the situation and gave an extended interview to Vatican media. He said that the decision of China is not in agreement with the content of the agreement and contradicts the rule of cooperation, but stated that the Pope wanted to act for the "greater good" of the Diocese of Shanghai, which is why he yet approved Beijing's decision. However, Parolin could only conclude that he "hoped" for closer cooperation in the future.
This year the cardinal had already announced an extension of the agreement, indicating that thanks to it fundamentally all bishops in the mediate State are in union with the Pope.
In the opinion of people like card. Joseph Zen-ze Kiun, however, speaks of false unity, i.e. the Church's adaptation to the Communist Party's policy requirements in China.
Many commentators, especially in the US, view the agreement as a modern version of the Vatican Ostpolitik in the times of the USSR.
Sources: KAI, PCh24.pl
Pache
The Vatican renews the agreement with China. Agreement this year
Humiliation. China has the Vatican diplomacy
