Defeat or die. Never have three words been as meaningful to the Catholic Church as they are now. We cite the facts: the Vatican already has plans to make the tiny state more sustainable with an agricultural voltaic plant, embraces the first millennium saint, and there’s even talk of diversity (but without going too far). All of this has a clear component: bringing the Vatican closer to modern times in search of new faithful. And when it comes to job hunting, there’s no place like the country of 1.4 billion people.

News. The Vatican and China reached an agreement for the next four years. In reality, this is a renewal of “vows” in which the Vatican “gives up” some of its influence in order to maintain ties with China, albeit temporarily. This way, they will be able to choose bishops from Asia, a decision that not everyone agrees with, as we will see.

Extension and agreement. As we said, the Vatican and China have renewed an agreement, and it is no small deal, as the agreement focuses on resolving the decades-old dispute over the appointment of bishops in the Chinese nation. That agreement, first signed in 2018, allows the Pope to have the final say on episcopal appointments, but the Vatican only recognizes bishops previously appointed by the Chinese government.

Despite criticism from many sections of the church, citing excessive concessions to the communist regime and concerns about religious freedoms, both sides underline their commitment to constructive dialogue and bilateral relations.

What do we know about the deal? For obvious reasons, the depth of the signature is unknown. The details of the agreement have never been fully disclosed, but the general framework is quite clear: to ensure that China recognizes papal authority over the Church in the country, in turn ensuring that the Vatican recognizes bishops appointed by the Chinese State who have previously been excommunicated.

Since the signing of the first agreement, no more than ten bishops have been named and consecrated under this provision, and even some bishops previously unrecognized by the government have been officially recognized.

Criticisms and difficulties. There is no doubt that the agreement sparked controversy both within and outside the Church. In this context, the New York Times noted that critics such as Cardinal Joseph Zen, the former bishop of Hong Kong, argue that the Vatican has handed over too much control to a regime that has historically suppressed religious freedom.

But others fear that the renewal would legitimize an authoritarian government and endanger Catholics who remain loyal to the underground Church. Moreover, it is alleged that China has violated the agreement by unilaterally appointing bishops on many occasions; These decisions were later accepted by Pope Francis in an interesting way. Frankly, there are formulas, twists and turns in the agreement between the two that no one agrees on.

It’s a tense story. If you’re wondering whether the story between China and the Catholic Church is new, the answer is mixed. The relationship between the Vatican and the Chinese government broke down in the 1950s, causing divisions between Chinese Catholics who attended state-sanctioned churches and those who remained loyal to Rome through the underground church.

But the Church knew that dialogue was necessary. We are talking about an estimated Catholic population of 10 to 12 million, and the truth is that the Vatican has been working for decades to find a solution to this conflict, arguing that it is important to unite and strengthen the Church in China (and its church). Millions of loyalists).

So what does the Pope say? Current Pope Francis has always taken a dialogue approach towards the Asian country, expressing his desire to strengthen bilateral relations and eventually visit the country. Despite the criticism, Francis argued that the agreement was a way to improve pastoral care and the Church’s presence in Asia.

For the Vatican’s most powerful figure, China represents a “promise and hope” for the future of the Church, reflecting his interest in keeping doors open and exploring opportunities to expand religious ties.

Future. As we said at the beginning, the agreement is for 4 years, we do not know whether it will be extended or not. Although the agreement has made progress in recognizing bishops, control of the Church in China remains a highly complex issue. With this latest renewal, the Vatican faces the task of balancing diplomatic relations with the principles of religious freedom.

However, its continuity and impact may also depend on the Vatican’s ability to maintain this “respectful” dialogue while also addressing current tensions between Catholic communities loyal to Rome and the Chinese government.

This is all nonsense that only time will figure out.

Image | Total Pressure, FMT

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