China, Vatican expected to renew bishops deal despite pressure from US, observers say

Vatican officials have said Holy See is willing to extend agreement, but Beijing says only that the two sides are in ‘close contact’

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has called on Pope Francis to back the faithful in China and speak out on human rights violations and persecution

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Pope Francis has faced criticism from within the Catholic Church for sharing authority with a communist state under the agreement. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:23pm, 22 Sep 2020Updated: 11:27pm, 22 Sep 2020

Beijing and the Vatican are expected to renew an agreement on the appointment of Catholic bishops in China, despite US pressure for the Holy See to take a more critical position in the negotiations, observers say.

The groundbreaking pact was reached two years ago and expires after September, but details of the agreement have never been made public.

Vatican officials have said the Holy See was willing to extend the agreement for another two years under the existing terms, though sources have previously told the South China Morning Post that there was frustration that Beijing had not fulfilled its end of the deal.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin on Tuesday would not confirm if the deal was to be renewed, saying only that the two sides were in “close contact” on the issue.

“China and the Vatican have maintained good communication … [We] welcome more open and active exchanges between the two sides,” Wang said.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to meet Pope Francis and Italian officials in Rome next week. Photo: Reuters

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