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Vatican ‘closer to historic recognition of Beijing bishops’

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The Vatican is moving closer to a historic agreement with China over the major stumbling bloc of who ordains bishops, a source close to the matter told AFP Friday, with seven Beijing-appointed bishops due to earn recognition.

Beijing and the Vatican severed diplomatic relations in 1951 and although ties have improved as China's Catholic population grows, they have remained at odds over the designation of bishops.

"Things are moving, but it is still impossible to know when a final accord will be reached," the source said.

"In a framework agreement, however still under negotiation with China, the Vatican accepts to legitimise seven Chinese Catholic bishops chosen directly by China."

The source was confirming a Wall Street Journal report about what would be a significant Vatican concession.

The Holy See "hopes (the concession) will lead Beijing to recognise his authority as head of the Catholic Church in China," the Journal said quoting a "person familiar with the plan".

AFP's source could not offer a date for an official agreement, saying it could still take time as complex negotiations launched three years ago continue.

The Vatican has in the past officially excommunicated three of the seven bishops to be recognised by Pope Francis, said an expert on the Catholic Church in China.

China's roughly 12 million Catholics are divided between a government-run association, whose clergy are chosen by the Communist Party, and an unofficial church which swears allegiance to the Vatican.

The situation is however complex because the Vatican has previously accepted several bishops appointed by Beijing, officially an atheist regime.

The issue flared again after two underground Chinese bishops, recognised by the pope, were asked by a top Vatican diplomat to resign in favour of state-sanctioned prelates, including one who was excommunicated by the Vatican in 2011.

The resignation requests appear linked to the negotations and were first reported in January by the Vatican-linked AsiaNews website.

That report was confirmed Monday by Cardinal Joseph Zen, bishop emeritus of semi-autonomous Hong Kong, who is a staunch opponent of any rapprochement between the Vatican and Beijing.

The long-stalled negotiations finally seem to be close to solving the issue of who ordains the bishops.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican number two, noted Wednesday in an interview with the Vatican Insider: "In China there are not two Churches, but two communities of faithful called to follow a gradual path of reconciliation towards unity."

The search for unity, at the core of the Holy See's diplomatic drive, clearly includes the "crucial" question of the bishops, he added, saying some people may be asked to make "sacrifices ... for the good of the Church."

However, the Vatican is one of 20 states to have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of China and stands as another hurdle to a resumption of ties between China and the Vatican.

The Vatican is moving closer to a historic agreement with China over the major stumbling bloc of who ordains bishops, a source close to the matter told AFP Friday, with seven Beijing-appointed bishops due to earn recognition.

Beijing and the Vatican severed diplomatic relations in 1951 and although ties have improved as China’s Catholic population grows, they have remained at odds over the designation of bishops.

“Things are moving, but it is still impossible to know when a final accord will be reached,” the source said.

“In a framework agreement, however still under negotiation with China, the Vatican accepts to legitimise seven Chinese Catholic bishops chosen directly by China.”

The source was confirming a Wall Street Journal report about what would be a significant Vatican concession.

The Holy See “hopes (the concession) will lead Beijing to recognise his authority as head of the Catholic Church in China,” the Journal said quoting a “person familiar with the plan”.

AFP’s source could not offer a date for an official agreement, saying it could still take time as complex negotiations launched three years ago continue.

The Vatican has in the past officially excommunicated three of the seven bishops to be recognised by Pope Francis, said an expert on the Catholic Church in China.

China’s roughly 12 million Catholics are divided between a government-run association, whose clergy are chosen by the Communist Party, and an unofficial church which swears allegiance to the Vatican.

The situation is however complex because the Vatican has previously accepted several bishops appointed by Beijing, officially an atheist regime.

The issue flared again after two underground Chinese bishops, recognised by the pope, were asked by a top Vatican diplomat to resign in favour of state-sanctioned prelates, including one who was excommunicated by the Vatican in 2011.

The resignation requests appear linked to the negotations and were first reported in January by the Vatican-linked AsiaNews website.

That report was confirmed Monday by Cardinal Joseph Zen, bishop emeritus of semi-autonomous Hong Kong, who is a staunch opponent of any rapprochement between the Vatican and Beijing.

The long-stalled negotiations finally seem to be close to solving the issue of who ordains the bishops.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican number two, noted Wednesday in an interview with the Vatican Insider: “In China there are not two Churches, but two communities of faithful called to follow a gradual path of reconciliation towards unity.”

The search for unity, at the core of the Holy See’s diplomatic drive, clearly includes the “crucial” question of the bishops, he added, saying some people may be asked to make “sacrifices … for the good of the Church.”

However, the Vatican is one of 20 states to have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of China and stands as another hurdle to a resumption of ties between China and the Vatican.

AFP
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With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

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