Vatican and China Extend Agreement on Catholic Bishop Appointments

Vatican and China have again temporarily extended the agreement on the appointment of Catholic bishops.

The agreement on Catholic bishop appointments between the Vatican and China, which has been extended every two years since 2018, was extended last night by both the Vatican and China for an additional four years. Although no details of the agreement have been released, its renewal indicates that both sides can play a role in selecting bishops.

The Vatican and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs both announced in a joint statement that they will continue their negotiations with each other in a constructive manner. The Vatican’s official media also reported that approximately 10 bishops have been appointed under this provisional agreement.

While the Chinese government rejected the Pope’s appointment of bishops in recent weeks, calling it interference in the country’s internal affairs, the so-called underground Catholic churches remain loyal to Pope Francis. Catholics in China are divided into two groups: one consists of churches approved by the government and the other consists of churches loyal to the Pope.