Vatican-China deal

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A worshiper waves the flag of China as Pope Francis leaves following the weekly general audience on June 12, 2019, at St. Peter's square in the Vatican.

Vatican says China violated terms of agreement with bishop installation

Nov 26, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The Holy See “noted with surprise and regret” that Bishop John Peng Weizhao had been installed as an “auxiliary bishop... Read more

The episcopal consecration of Francis Cui Qingqi in Wuhan, China, Sept. 8, 2021.

U.S. religious freedom commission ‘tremendously disappointed’ with Vatican-China deal renewal

Oct 26, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

A member of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom says it is “tremendously disappointed” with the Vatican’s decision.  Read more

A Vatican delegation sent to China between Aug. 28 and Sept. 2, 2022, visited 92-year-old Bishop Melchior Shi Hongzhen, seen here in a photo taken on May 24, 2015. The visit was a strong signal from the Holy See that despite the desire to carry on a dialogue, the situation of Catholics in China has not been forgotten.

Analysis: The diplomatic principles behind the Vatican’s agreement with China

Oct 26, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Two aspects are key to understanding the Vatican’s diplomatic approach. Read more

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle speaking at the Vatican on Oct. 21, 2021.

Cardinal Tagle defends Vatican-China deal

Oct 25, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has defended the Vatican’s decision to renew its provisional agreement with China on the appointment of... Read more

Pilgrims wave a Chinese flag at the general audience with Pope Francis, Oct. 12, 2022.

Vatican renews China deal for second time

Oct 22, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

The terms of the deal, first signed in 2018, have not been made public. Read more

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, pictured on July 2, 2015.

Cardinal Parolin hopes Zen arrest will not complicate Vatican-China dialogue

May 13, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Cardinal Parolin said: ‘I would like to express my closeness to the cardinal who was freed and treated well.’ Read more

Cardinal Pietro Parolin celebrates Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on April 27, 2017.

Cardinal Parolin says he hopes Vatican-China deal can be tweaked

Apr 11, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

In Part 3 of an exclusive interview, the Vatican Secretary of State looks ahead to the deal’s renewal in October. Read more

Pope Francis is interviewed by Carlos Herrera, a journalist at the Spanish radio station COPE.

Pope Francis says that he hopes Cardinal Becciu is innocent of charges in Vatican finance trial

Sep 1, 2021

By Courtney Mares

He made the comment in his first interview since undergoing colon surgery. Read more

Catholics carry a portrait of the Virgin Mary in China’s Hebei Province on May 26, 2013.

Catholics in China told to celebrate communist party and forgo Marian pilgrimage

Aug 13, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Catholic dioceses across China hosted celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) this year, while pilgrimages... Read more

Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See, meets with Wang Yi, China's foreign minister, in Munich, Feb. 14, 2020.

Months after China detains Xinxiang's Bishop Zhang, Catholics seek answers

Aug 4, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

Bishop Joseph Zhang Weizhu’s whereabouts are still unknown months after Chinese officials detained him with clergy and seminarians who object... Read more

Vatican says 5th Catholic bishop consecrated under China agreement

Jul 28, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

Bishop Li was ordained July 28, after being appointed by Pope Francis in January. Read more

Former Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback.

'You don’t negotiate with evil': Former ambassador hopes Vatican reconsiders deal with China

May 13, 2021

By Matt Hadro

The former U.S. religious freedom ambassador hopes that a new report documenting abuses by the Chinese Communist Party will prompt... Read more

St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Jan. 25, 2015.

Vatican should speak up on China, scholar says

Mar 22, 2021

A Swedish scholar who studies China has called for the Vatican to speak up about human rights abuses by the... Read more

Credit: FreshStock/Shutterstock

Report: Vatican not mentioned in China’s new rules on bishop appointments

Feb 15, 2021

According to new rules which will reportedly take effect on May 1, China’s state-run Catholic Church and bishops’ conference will... Read more

A YouTube screenshot of the KTO TV interview with Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Cardinal Parolin on Vatican finances: 'Talking about a crisis is a bit excessive'

Jan 30, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Cardinal Pietro Parolin has said that he does not consider the Vatican’s financial scandals to be “a crisis,” but pointed... Read more

Flags of China and Vatican City.

Congressional report: Biden administration should push Vatican to ‘reevaluate’ China deal

Jan 14, 2021

By Matt Hadro

A new congressional report calls for U.S. diplomatic engagement with the Vatican to “reevaluate” its 2018 agreement with China on... Read more

The episcopal ordination of Thomas Chen Tianhao in Qingdao Cathedral, China, on Nov. 23, 2020.

Chinese Patriotic Association announces ordination of new bishop

Nov 24, 2020

The Chinese Patriotic Association announced Monday the ordination of a new bishop of Qingdao.  Read more

US Secretary of State Michael Mike Pompeo.

Pompeo: China is world's 'gravest threat' to religious freedom

Oct 29, 2020

The U.S. Secretary of State on Thursday called out the Chinese Communist Party as the world’s most serious threat to... Read more

Cathedral of the Sacred Heart the main Catholic church of Dali, Yunnan, China.

China continued religious crackdown during renewal of Vatican deal

Oct 26, 2020

The Chinese government continued to enforce sweeping restrictions on religious freedom in the weeks prior to the renewal of an agreement with... Read more

The flags of Taiwan and the Vatican.

Taiwan foreign ministry: Catholics in China are facing serious challenges

Oct 23, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Taiwan’s foreign ministry responded by the renewal of the Sino-Vatican provisional agreement Thursday by highlighting the worsening religious freedom situation... Read more