[ad_1]
Pope Francis meets a group of Chinese worshipers at the end of his weekly audience on St. Peter's Square at the Vatican in April. The Vatican claims to have signed an "interim agreement" with China on the appointment of bishops, a breakthrough on an issue that has fueled decades of tension between the Holy See and Beijing.
Gregorio Borgia / AP
hide the legend
toggle the legend
Gregorio Borgia / AP
Pope Francis meets a group of Chinese worshipers at the end of his weekly audience on St. Peter's Square at the Vatican in April. The Vatican claims to have signed an "interim agreement" with China on the appointment of bishops, a breakthrough on an issue that has fueled decades of tension between the Holy See and Beijing.
Gregorio Borgia / AP
After decades of tension, the Vatican and China have signed an "interim agreement" on the appointment of bishops.
The agreement, signed in Beijing by vice-ministers of foreign affairs on both sides, gives its opinion to the Holy See on the appointment of bishops and grants the pope a veto over candidates.
Beijing has long insisted that it should approve the bishops' appointments to China, and this insistence has prevented the improvement of relations between the two sides.
Since China became a communist, its 12 million Catholics have been divided between a state-approved church and a clandestine church loyal to the Vatican.
Sylvia Poggioli, of NPR, reports for our Newscast Unit that "this historic decision could pave the way for formal diplomatic relations, but also the anger of many Chinese Catholics in selling to the communist government."
"The Vatican has declared that Pope Francis recognized the legitimacy of seven state-appointed bishops and hoped that this agreement" would overcome the wounds of the past and lead to full Chinese Catholic unity, "reports Poggioli.
She adds that "many clandestine Chinese Catholics fear further repression if the Vatican gives up more control in Beijing, and other Catholics consider the agreement as a rapprochement that will avoid a potential schism."
The deal was announced on Saturday while Pope Francis was visiting the Baltic countries.
Vatican spokesman Greg Burke, speaking in Vilnius, Lithuania, said the goal of the agreement "is not political but pastoral, allowing the faithful to Have bishops in communion with Rome but recognized by the Chinese authorities ". Press reports
In addition to boosting diplomatic efforts, the deal could pave the way for a papal trip to China.
According to the New York Times, "Pope Francis has for years spoken of his desire to visit China, where Roman Catholicism has gradually lost ground against the growing repression and surveillance of President Xi Jinping's religious groups. the country, have largely overshadowed the percentage in China of Catholics. "
