Vatican dismisses US concerns over China bishops deal after Pompeo urges church to take tougher stance on religious freedom

The Holy See is keen to renew a deal on the appointment of bishops despite increasing concerns about human rights and religious freedom

The US secretary of state tries to push the Vatican into taking a tougher stance during his recent visit to Rome

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Cardinal Pietro Parolin meets US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the Vatican. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:00pm, 2 Oct 2020Updated: 12:00am, 3 Oct 2020

The Vatican has clashed with the United States over China as the Catholic Church continues its efforts to renew a controversial deal with Beijing over the appointment of bishops, which is set to expire at the end of the month.

The Holy See has dismissed concerns from critics, including the US, and said it is a necessary move to improve religious freedom despite the lack of progress made in the past two years.

Pope Francis cancelled a meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during his two-day visit to Rome to avoid political favouritism ahead of the US presidential election.

During his visit, Pompeo called on the Vatican to take a harsher stance against China religious and human rights oppressions.

On Thursday, Pompeo met his counterpart, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the secretary for relations with states, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, to discuss their disagreements over China and other international conflicts in a 45-minute meeting, according to Vatican News.

“We had a constructive discussion,” Pompeo said after the meeting. “We have a shared objective. The Chinese Communist Party is behaving in ways that are reminiscent of what’s only happened in centuries past in terms of human rights violations. We’ve watched them oppress not only Muslim Uygurs but Christians, Catholics, Falun Gong, people of all faiths.”

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