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China-Vatican relations

China-Vatican relations
The latest news, analysis and opinion on China-Vatican relations. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
last updated:
15 October, 2024
The deal recognised Pope Francis’s status as head of the Roman Catholic Church. Photo: Reuters
Religion in China

China and Vatican agree to extend deal on bishop appointments for 4 more years

The 2018 agreement allows Beijing to nominate candidates to fill vacant sees but critics say it has ‘sold out’ China’s underground Catholics.

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Pope Francis

Pope calls Beijing ‘a promise and hope’ for church in new overture to China

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Ukraine war

China and Vatican discuss Ukraine peace plan as Russia continues to lose ground

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Taiwan

Beijing hopes for better ties as Vatican seeks ‘stable presence in China’

Beijing’s pledge comes after Holy See hosts Shanghai bishop for Concilium Sinense centenary, offers to ‘renew and develop’ 2018 deal on appointing bishops.

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Shanghai Bishop Joseph Shen Bin with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, in Rome on Tuesday. Photo: AP
Hong Kong society

Beijing’s top Catholic cleric visits Hong Kong to bolster ties between dioceses

Bishop Joseph Li is on ‘reciprocal visit’, the first by Beijing’s top Catholic cleric since Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule, following counterpart’s trip to capital.

Hong Kong

Editorial | Vatican raises hopes with new role for Hong Kong’s Chow

By making city bishop Stephen Chow Sau-yan a cardinal, Rome has established an important bridge between mainland China and the church

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Hong Kong society

Hong Kong’s top Catholic priest Stephen Chow made a cardinal by Pope Francis

Chow was among 21 bishops promoted in ceremony hosted by pontiff at St Peter’s Square, making him fourth in city’s history to hold the title.

Chow follows in the footsteps of late John Baptist Wu Cheng-chung, Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, 91, and John Tong Hon, 83. Photo: AP
Pope Francis

Pope returns to Rome from Mongolia trip dominated by China

‘Relations with China are very respectful, very. I have a great admiration for the Chinese people,’ the pope told reporters on his flight back to Rome on Monday.

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Mongolia

Pope Francis praises Mongolia but warns of corruption, environmental ruin

The pontiff says Mongolia’s tradition of living in harmony with nature and its creatures ‘can contribute significantly’ to efforts to protect Earth.

Mongolia

Pope arrives in Mongolia, a nation of 1,400 Catholics on China’s doorstep

Pope Francis sent a message of ‘unity and peace’ to China as he made his first trip to Buddhist-majority Mongolia.

Pope Francis greets a child during a welcoming ceremony in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Photo: Reuters
Italy

Shanghai bishop approved by Pope as Vatican chides China for ‘violation’

Pope Francis has named Bishop Joseph Shen Bin to head the vacant Shanghai diocese after China moved him from Jiangsu province earlier this year in an apparent violation of a bilateral pact.

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Pope Francis has approved Bishop Shen for the Shanghai diocese because he is an “esteemed pastor”, the Vatican said. Photo: Xinhua
Hong Kong

Editorial | Chow gives boost to reconciliation hopes

On his elevation to cardinal, the head of the Hong Kong Catholic diocese, Stephen Chow Sau-yan, has renewed calls for peace in a divided society and pledged to reach out to mainland China.

Hong Kong politics

Being patriotic requires ‘extra effort’ by colonial-era Hongkongers: Catholic cleric

Bishop Stephen Chow acknowledges recent call for patriotism could spark ‘complicated emotions’, but says faith can help teach people to love country, church.

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Hong Kong politics

Patriotism is everyone’s duty, Hong Kong bishop says during historic Beijing trip

Bishop Stephen Chow’s five-day trip marks first time city’s top Catholic cleric has visited Beijing since Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule.

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(From left) Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha, Bishop Stephen Chow and Bishop Joseph Li in Beijing. The portrait is of Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong Catholic bishop calls for closer ties with mainland Chinese churches

Five-day visit by Bishop Stephen Chow marks first time local top Catholic cleric has made Beijing trip since Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule.

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Bishop Stephen Chow of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong. Photo: Handout
My Take

My Take | Uneasy pact appears to suit Vatican and China right now

Both Rome and Beijing have bigger things to worry about than a deal on mutually acceptable bishops especially as Hong Kong’s top Catholic cleric travels to meet mainland counterpart.

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Catholic Church

Vatican says China has unilaterally appointed bishop to Shanghai

The move to transfer Bishop Shen Bin from Haimen to the largest Roman Catholic diocese in the country appears to violate a secret pact between the 2 states.

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Pope Benedict XVI

Letters | From China to Iraq, the legacy and lessons of former Pope Benedict

Readers discuss lessons from the eight-year papacy of Benedict XVI, and the current information war around Ukraine.

A picture of Pope Benedict XVI between the pages of a hymn book during Mass at a church in Beijing on Christmas Day in 2005. As soon as he was elected, Benedict made clear he wanted to re-establish diplomatic relations with China that were severed in 1951. The Vatican announced on December 31, 2022 that Benedict had died at age 95. Photo: AP
Religion in China

Vatican confirms renewal of accord with China on bishops’ appointments

Only six new bishops have been appointed since the deal was struck, which opponents say proves it is not producing desired effects.

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Holy See

China declines Xi-Pope Francis meeting in Kazakhstan, Vatican source says

Beijing turns down Vatican’s ‘expression of availability’ because Chinese president’s schedule is full, according to source.

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Taiwan

Taiwan sends special envoy to beatification of former pope

Chen Chien-je, a former vice-president, will attend the ceremony to highlight ‘the close friendship’ between Taiwan and the Vatican.

Hundreds of chairs are lined up in St Peter’s Square ahead of Sunday’s beatification ceremony for John Paul I. Photo: AP
Holy See

Beijing tells new Catholic leaders to ‘fend off infiltration by foreign forces’

Top political adviser Wang Yang met the newly elected leaders of two state-sponsored church bodies in China.

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Top political adviser Wang Yang (centre) meets the new leaders of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association and the Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China on Tuesday. Photo: Xinhua
Catholic Church

Pope hopes deal with China on bishop appointments will be renewed soon

Opponents of the secret agreement which comes up for renewal in October include former Hong Kong archbishop Joseph Zen.

From our archives

When Pope John Paul II elevated Hong Kong’s Bishop Wu to Cardinal

In 1988, Pope John Paul II elevated Catholic Bishop John Baptist Wu Cheng-chung to Cardinal. The Hongkonger would ‘play an important role in the initiative to improve Sino-Vatican relations’.

Taiwan

Taiwan blasts Nicaragua for giving its assets to Beijing after cutting ties

Ministry criticises ‘illegal seizure’ after Daniel Ortega’s government confiscates embassy compound and other assets Taipei had donated to Catholic archdiocese.

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The diplomatic quarter in Taipei houses a shrinking number of foreign embassies. Photo: Reuters
Taiwan

Caution at the Vatican amid US-China tussle over Taiwan

The Holy See is taking a wait and see approach to cutting ties with Taipei and connecting with Beijing, analysts say.

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Pope Francis (right) meets US President Joe Biden at the Vatican City on Friday. Photo: EPA-EFE
Catholic Church

Wuhan diocese finally gets new bishop under China-Vatican agreement

Cui Qingqi, the sixth appointment under the 2018 pact, is trusted by Beijing and heads the local Catholic Church bodies overseen by the Communist Party.

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Religion

Editorial | Hong Kong’s new bishop will have to walk a tightrope

Stephen Chow must balance his religious beliefs with the realities of today’s politics.

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