Vatican China dialogue/ Pope China outreach/ Catholic Church and China relations/ Newslooks/ ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE/ Pope Francis expressed admiration for China, calling the country “a promise and a hope” for the Catholic Church. Speaking at the end of his Asia tour, Francis praised ongoing Vatican-China negotiations regarding bishop appointments. Despite past challenges in their relationship, the Pope remains optimistic about future dialogue and the possibility of visiting China.
Pope’s New Overture to China: Quick Looks
- Positive Remarks: Pope Francis described China as “a promise and a hope” for the Catholic Church during his return flight from Asia.
- Bishop Negotiations: The Vatican is in the final stages of renewing a 2018 agreement with China on appointing bishops, a historically contentious issue.
- Optimism for Dialogue: Francis expressed satisfaction with the ongoing negotiations, calling them a result of “good will” from both sides.
- Historical Divide: China’s Catholics are divided between a state-recognized church and an underground one loyal to Rome.
- Past Challenges: While acknowledging difficulties, the Vatican sees the current agreement as the best available option to improve ties with China.
Pope Makes New Overture to China, Expresses Hope for Stronger Ties
Deep Look
During an in-flight press conference on his return from a four-nation Asia tour, Pope Francis made a significant diplomatic gesture towards China, calling the country “a promise and a hope” for the future of the Catholic Church. His remarks reflect an optimistic view of the ongoing dialogue between the Vatican and Beijing, particularly as both sides work to renew a 2018 agreement concerning the contentious issue of appointing bishops in China.
The agreement, set to expire soon, is a sensitive topic within the Church. For decades, China and the Vatican have been at odds over the right to appoint bishops, with Beijing insisting that it retains sovereignty over such decisions and the Vatican asserting that only the pope holds the authority to name successors to the original Apostles. The 2018 deal sought to bridge this divide by allowing both parties some say in the appointment process. However, the agreement has been controversial, with the Vatican acknowledging that it was not a perfect deal but the best option to move forward with China.
Despite the complications, Pope Francis conveyed a sense of satisfaction with the progress being made. “I’m happy with the dialogue with China,” he told reporters aboard the papal plane, highlighting that both sides are negotiating in a spirit of good will. He called the ongoing talks “good” and suggested that the process has yielded positive results.
One of the most striking elements of his remarks was Francis’ personal admiration for China. He described the country as having a rich “millennial culture” and praised its “capacity for dialogue and understanding.” In fact, Francis went so far as to express his desire to visit China, a trip he has long hoped to make. “China for me is an illusion, in the sense that I want to visit China,” he said, indicating that a papal trip to the country remains a long-term goal.
The Vatican has been working for years to mend relations with China, which were officially severed in the 1950s after the Communist Party took power. The Catholic population in China, estimated at 12 million, has been split into two groups: a state-approved church that operates under government oversight and an underground church that remains loyal to the Vatican. The Vatican’s 2018 deal with China was an attempt to reunite these factions under a more harmonious structure. However, the agreement has faced significant challenges, with reports of violations and complaints from Catholics, especially those loyal to the underground church, who feel marginalized.
Despite these hurdles, the Vatican under Pope Francis has continued to make overtures to China in the hope of fostering better relations. The Vatican’s stance, however, has not been without its critics. Many conservatives, particularly in the U.S., have accused the Holy See of compromising its principles by engaging with a regime that tightly controls religious activity and views Christianity and Islam as foreign influences threatening its authority.
American critics have expressed frustration with what they see as the Vatican’s willingness to overlook China’s religious repression in exchange for limited gains. These critics argue that the Vatican is abandoning Chinese Catholics who have endured persecution for their loyalty to Rome. Still, Pope Francis remains hopeful that dialogue and cooperation will lead to better conditions for Catholics in China.
In Friday’s remarks, Francis acknowledged the challenges but maintained his optimistic outlook, stating, “I think China is a promise and a hope for the church.” His words reflect a broader strategy to integrate China more fully into the global Catholic community, even as difficult negotiations continue.
As the Vatican and China near the conclusion of their latest round of talks, the future of the Catholic Church in China remains uncertain. Whether the renewed agreement will address concerns from both the Vatican and the Chinese government remains to be seen. Nevertheless, Pope Francis’ comments signal his ongoing commitment to improving relations with China, despite the political and religious complexities involved.
