The Vatican is brushing aside rumors saying that it plans to open diplomatic relations with China following the renewal, Thursday, of a two-year deal on the appointment of Roman Catholic bishops in China.
The Vatican and China reached a tacit agreement to extend the previous agreement on episcopal appointments, and will evaluate the results after two years. The accord gives the Pope the final say over the appointment of Roman Catholic Chinese bishops.
On the other hand, the atheist Chinese communist government will allow all Catholic bishops, including those from a Catholic Church organized by Chinese communists, to recognize the Pope's authority over them.
The Pope will make a final decision on which Bishops to appoint. This power also gives the Pope veto power.
Pope Francis has recognized eight bishops appointed by China without his approval. He also appointed two new bishops.
The agreement, however, is still being harshly criticized by conservative Catholics as a betrayal of Chinese Catholics.
"It must be recognized that there are still many situations of great suffering," said the Vatican in a statement.
"The Holy See is very aware of this, it acknowledges it, and will not fail to bring it to the attention of the Chinese government in order favor a more fruitful exercising of religious freedom."
The tacit agreement has again resurrected the issue of The Vatican opening diplomatic ties with China. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pio Parolin scotched these rumors, however.
Parolin said talk of diplomatic relations was premature. He said the new accord is strictly religious and not political.
For its part, China did hint at closer ties with the Vatican. A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said China and the Vatican will continue to keep in close communication and consultation and continue to push forward the process of improving relations.
In September, the Vatican called the agreement part of the "dialogue" between the two involving "patient listening on both sides even when people come from very different standpoints," said Greg Burke, director of the Holy See Press Office.
Catholic Church law mandates only the Pope can name bishops. The Code of Canon Law says it is the Pope who "freely appoints bishops or confirms those legitimately elected."
The deal replaces the original provisional agreement with China signed Sept. 22, 2018. Before this, the communist government in China gave itself the power of episcopal appointments after 1949.
Communist China organized a state-controlled "Patriotic Catholic Association" whose bishops are appointed by the Communist Party of China. Catholics loyal to the church in Rome were forced underground and persecuted by the communists.
There are 12 million Catholics in China, which has a population of 1.4 billion. The Vatican is one of fewer than 20 countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
