China and the Vatican have agreed to extend an agreement concerning the appointment of Chinese bishops, the two parties said on Tuesday.
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Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a regular press briefing in Beijing that both parties had decided to extend the agreement by four years after “friendly consultations”.
“The two sides will maintain talks with a constructive spirit and continue to promote the improvement of China-Vatican relations,” Lin said.
Separately, the Vatican said it “remains dedicated to furthering the respectful and constructive dialogue” with China for the “benefit of the Catholic Church in China and the Chinese people as a whole”.
The agreement was reached in 2018 and has since been renewed in 2020 and 2022.
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It gives the Chinese authorities and Beijing-sanctioned churches the power to nominate a pool of candidates, before they are vetted by the Vatican for the Pope’s consideration.
In theory it still means the Pope has the final say in the selection of Chinese bishops. However, the specific terms of the agreement have never been made public.