Bishop Joseph Li Shan (center) baptizes a woman during a Mass at the South Cathedral in Beijing on September 22, 2018.聽The Vatican on September 22 announced a historic accord with China on the appointment of bishops in the communist country as Pope Francisrecognizedd seven Beijing-appointed bishops in a move that could pave the way for a rapprochement between the Catholic Church and the world鈥檚 most populous country. AFP
VATICAN CITY, Holy See 鈥� The Vatican on Saturday announced an historic accord with China on who appoints bishops in the Communist country, paving the way for rapprochement between the Catholic Church and the world鈥檚 most populous country.
Shortly after the deal was unveiled, Pope Francis recognized seven clergy appointed by Beijing, which has not had ties with the Vatican since 1951.
China immediately said it was hopeful of better relations, while Taiwan insisted its ties with the Vatican were safe.
There are an estimated 12 million Catholics in China, divided between a government-run association whose clergy are chosen by the Communist Party and an unofficial church which swears allegiance to the Vatican.
The Holy See is one of only 17 countries that recognize Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China, instead of diplomatic ties with Beijing.
Pope Francis has sought to improve relations with China since he took office in 2013, but previous attempts foundered over Beijing鈥檚 insistence that the Vatican give up recognition of its rival and promise not to interfere in domestic religious issues.
Saturday鈥檚 breakthrough came as churches have聽been destroyed in some Chinese regions in recent months, and there has been a clampdown on Bible sales. Crosses have been removed from church tops, printed religious materials and holy items confiscated, and church-run kindergartens closed.
The agreement with China 鈥渃oncerns the nomination of Bishops, a question of great importance for the life of the Church,鈥� the Vatican said in a statement as Pope Francis began a visit to the Baltic states.
The deal 鈥渃reates the conditions for greater collaboration at the bilateral level,鈥� it added.
Following the announcement, the pontiff recognized seven bishops who had been ordained in China without the approval of the Holy See, his office announced.
鈥淧ope Francis hopes that, with these decisions, a new process may begin that will allow the wounds of the past to be overcome, leading to the full communion of all Chinese Catholics,鈥� a statement said.
The pope also posthumously recognized an eighth bishop who 鈥渉ad expressed the desire to be reconciled with the Apostolic See鈥� before he died last year, it said.
China said the 鈥減rovisional鈥� agreement was signed in Beijing by vice foreign minister Wang Chao and a Vatican delegation headed by the under-secretary for relations with states, Antoine Camilleri.
The two sides, it added, 鈥渨ill continue to maintain communication and push forward the improvement of bilateral relations鈥�.
The Vatican cut ties with Beijing two years after the founding of the communist People鈥檚 Republic.
鈥楽trategic, naive鈥�
The Taiwanese foreign ministry insisted Taipei would not lose its only diplomatic ally in Europe over the agreement and said it hoped the Holy See would ensure that Catholics on the mainland 鈥渞eceive due protection and not be subject to repression鈥�.
Taiwan鈥檚 top China policy-making body, the Mainland Affairs Council, noted that religious communities in China still 鈥渟uffer greatly鈥� and urged Beijing to refrain from 鈥渋nterference and persecution.鈥�
Analysts warn Beijing could use the accord to further crack down on Catholic faithful.
Jonathan Sullivan, director of the China Policy Institute at the University of Nottingham, described the accord as 鈥渁 strategic move on China鈥檚 part; and a naive one on the Vatican鈥檚鈥�.
Sullivan said China鈥檚 Communist party will frame the deal as the Vatican鈥檚 seal of approval to the state-run Catholic Church at a time Christian believers are facing a severe crackdown.
鈥淯ltimately, the Party would like to subsume all forms of worship under state organs that make it easier to manage and ensure that everyone鈥檚 primary loyalty is to the state,鈥� Sullivan told AFP.
A priest from an underground church in China鈥檚 northern Hebei province said some of his flock had reservations.
鈥淔or the church members and priests, there are some that accept, and some that cannot completely understand (the situation), because they remain suspicious of the Communist Party and the Chinese government. They doubt their sincerity,鈥� the priest said on condition of anonymity.
Churchgoers in Beijing and Shanghai at Saturday evening services were generally unaware that a deal had been struck.
鈥淲hatever this means for the church is up to God. As a follower of the church, we pray for the best,鈥� said one, who gave her name only as Magdalene.聽/cbb