Speaking to journalists on Thursday, 5 November, the Vatican Secretary of State reaffirmed that the provisional agreement governing the appointment of Catholic bishops in the People’s Republic of China remains in force, with no change to the Vatican’s approach following its two renewals.
“That has been the line, so there have been no changes. The appointments of bishops are made according to the provisions of the Agreement, and the Pope has given his assent to this,” His Eminence said.
Cardinal Parolin was speaking on the occasion of an international conference at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome marking the centenary of the consecration of the first six Chinese bishops by Pope Pius XI in 1926.
The Secretary of State also responded to questions concerning recent remarks by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, about the imperfections of the China-Vatican agreement.
“Of course, all agreements are imperfect. And therefore the one on China is too,” Cardinal Parolin said.
He acknowledged the particular difficulties surrounding the negotiations, citing the complexity of the circumstances in which the Holy See had to operate.
“Even more so because it was not such an easy Agreement due to the complexity of the situations and conditions in which we found ourselves acting, and in which we find ourselves acting,” His Eminence said.
Despite those difficulties, Cardinal Parolin insisted that the process remained open and should continue. Referring to the centenary gathering, he called the anniversary a sign of hope and urged the Vatican to improve the existing arrangement.
“The path is open,” His Eminence said, adding: “Therefore, let us move forward, seeking to perfect what is imperfect.”
The conference, entitled The Face of the Universal Church in China, 100 Years from the Consecration of the First Six Chinese Bishops, is being held in the university’s Auditorium St John Paul II from 10.30am until 6pm. It brings together senior Vatican officials, Chinese bishops and academics to examine the development of the Catholic hierarchy in China and its relationship with the universal Church.
Among the participants are Cardinal Stephen Chow Sau Yan, the Jesuit Bishop of Hong Kong, Giuseppe Li Shan, Bishop of Beijing, and Ignazio Ding Zuyao, Bishop of Haimen.
Cardinal Chow is scheduled to address the relationship between inculturation, Sinicisation and intercultural formation in the establishment of the Chinese Catholic hierarchy. His contribution is entitled “Inculturation, Sinicization, Interculturality of Formation in Light of the Establishment of the Chinese Catholic Hierarchy”.