The Vatican has renewed its historic agreement with China on the appointment of Catholic bishops for another four years, extending the deal until 22 October 2028. This renewal comes despite concerns over China’s human rights record and religious freedom violations, including the detention of seven Catholic bishops without due process. The agreement, first signed in 2018, aims to unify the Catholic Church in China under the Pope’s leadership and has already led to the appointment of around 10 bishops.
The Vatican statement emphasized the importance of “respectful and constructive dialogue” with China, with both parties agreeing to extend the provisional agreement after “appropriate consultations and assessments”. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian confirmed the extension, stating that the two sides will maintain “contact and dialogue in a constructive spirit”.
Pope Francis has expressed satisfaction with the ongoing dialogue with China. Despite the challenges, the renewal of the agreement marks another step in the evolving relationship between the Holy See and Beijing.