Vatican Pursues Renewal of Controversial Secret Accord with China

Appearing on Italian state-run television RAI2, Cardinal Parolin confirmed the return of a Holy See delegation from China as well as the probable renewal this fall of the agreement on the appointment of bishops.

Parolin said that the provisional agreement first signed by the Holy See in 2018 with the CCP and renewed for two years in 2020 seeks to ensure that all bishops are in communion with the Pope, fully Chinese and fully Catholic. He acknowledged that there is still a long way to go, requiring patience to move...