Pope prays for China's Catholics to be in communion with Vatican after defiance of bishop agreement
POPE LEO XIV has asked for prayers for China's Catholics to be in communion with the Vatican, as he made his first public remarks about one of the thorniest foreign policy issues facing his new pontificate.
It comes after China
openly defied an agreement with the Vatican on the appointment of bishops.
Only the pope can ratify a bishop appointment and China 'elected' two bishops in the days following Pope Francis's death when the papal office was empty.
In remarks today, the new Pope recalled that on Saturday, the Catholic Church marked a special feast day to pray for the church in China.
Pope Benedict XVI had initiated the feast day as part of his efforts to unify China's 12 million Catholics who were divided between an official, state-controlled Church that did not recognise papal authority, and an underground Church that remained loyal to the Vatican through decades of persecution.
Leo noted that on the feast day, 'in the churches and shrines in China and throughout the world, prayers have been raised to God as a sign of the solicitude and affection for Chinese Catholics and their communion with the universal church'.
Speaking from his studio window during his noon blessing, Leo prayed that Catholics in China and elsewhere 'obtain the grace to be strong and joyful witnesses of the Gospel, even in the midst of trials, to always promote peace and harmony'.
Defiance of Vatican-China agreement
In 2018, Pope Francis helped broker an agreement between the Vatican and China to find a middle-ground between the underground Catholic Church faithful to the Vatican and the state-controlled Church.
In China, the five main religions have government-controlled bodies that manage their affairs – for Catholicism, it's the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA).
The CCPA in the past appointed bishops in China without Vatican approval.
But the colloquially known underground Catholics do not affiliate with the CCPA and instead looks to the Vatican and its own
secretly ordained bishops
.
Chinese authorities have in the past harassed this underground Church and has reportedly
detained some of its clergy
and
closed its churches
.
While the agreement has not been made public, it includes a framework whereby Chinese authorities put forth names of new bishops that the pope then either approves or disapproves.
However, this agreement was violated when China 'elected' two bishops despite the Catholic Church being in the 'sede vacante' period following the death of Francis.
When a pope dies or resigns, the Catholic Church enters a period known as sede vacante - Latin for 'the seat being vacant'.
Advertisement
During this period, the Vatican is unable to ratify any bishop appointments as only the pope has the ability to do this.
One of these bishop appointments was particularly striking because the diocese is already led by a Vatican-appointed bishop.
The Vatican-approved bishop in this diocese is Bishop Joseph Zhang Weizhu, who was secretly appointed by Pope John Paul II in 1991.
He spent decades ministering without Chinese-state approval and has been arrested multiple times.
It's reported that
Zhang was most recently arrested in 2021 while recovering from cancer surgery and remains in custody without trial.
China-Vatican relations
The relationship between China and the Vatican has been rocky going back over decades.
In 1951, China severed ties with the Vatican and expelled its papal nuncio on 'espionage' charges.
The Vatican is also one of only 12 governments – and the only one in Europe –
to recognise the State of Taiwan.
China claims Taiwan is a province and has vowed to annex it.
It's reported that a full reconciliation with the Vatican would involve the Holy See breaking diplomatic ties with Taiwan and allowing China free reign on appointing bishops, something the Vatican will not agree to.
Taiwan's president, who met Francis six times,
did not attend Francis's funeral or Leo's inauguration and instead sent a former vice-president
.
This meant Taiwan's president Lai Ching-te missed a rare opportunity to mix with other global leaders.
Meanwhile, Cardinal Joseph Zen of Hong Kong previously described the 2018 agreement as an 'incredible betrayal' and accused the Vatican of 'selling out and abandoning the faithful of the underground church in China'.
In 2018, he said: 'The consequences will be tragic and long lasting, not only for the Church in China but for the whole Church because it damages the credibility.
'Maybe that's why they might keep the agreement secret.'
He added: 'The Holy See encouraged them to persevere and for so many years Popes praised their courage. And now they are being told to surrender.'
-With additional reporting from Press Association
Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.
Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
Learn More
Support The Journal
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
2 hours ago
- The Journal
Who is Karol Nawrocki, the Trump-inspired Polish president-elect?
NATIONALIST OPPOSITION CANDIDATE Karol Nawrocki narrowly secured a victory in Poland's presidential election. The 42-year-old nationalist was congratulated by US President Donald Trump following his win. 'TRUMP ALLY WINS IN POLAND, SHOCKING ALL IN EUROPE,' Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. 'Congratulations Poland, you picked a WINNER!' Nawrocki and his supporting party Law and Justice (PiS) have vowed to strengthen ties with Trump and the US. Nawrocki, a conservative politician, defeated the centrist Mayor of Warsaw Rafal Trzaskowski with a vote of 51% to his opponent's 49%. Trzaskowski ran with the support of the country's Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The Eurosceptic president-elect is likely to use his position to hinder the implementation of Tusk's liberal policies. Nawrocki is an outspoken critic of Tusk's agenda on abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. Who is Karol Nawrocki? Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Nawrocki is a historian with a PhD in the area of anticommunist opposition in Poland. He is an independent politician but is supported by PiS. PiS were in government for eight years – until the election 18 months ago that saw the party replaced by Tusk's centrist Civic Platform coalition. Advertisement Nawrocki is the head of the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN). The IPN is an organisation tasked with investigating and prosecuting Nazi and communist crimes between 1917 and 1980. During the presidential campaign, Nawrocki's critics questioned his role at the IPN as he had unique access to state secrets. He also served as the director of the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk from 2017 until 2021. Nawrocki supports the close relationship between the Catholic Church and state, and the criminalisation of abortion. He is opposed to the legalisation of same-sex marriage and Poland's adopting of the Euro as its currency. Identified as a right-wing populist and a vehement opposer of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Nawrocki will succeed incumbent Andrzej Duda, also from PiS. PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski said that Sunday's election result was a 'red card' for the government. Nawrocki is a former boxer and has authored and co-authored numerous books. In 2018, an unknown author Tadeusz Batyr published a book documenting the life of a gangster from 1980s communist Poland. Appearing on TV to promote the book, wearing a hat with his face blurred, the author claimed he was 'really inspired' by historian Karol Nawrocki. It emerged during the presidential campaign that 'Tadeusz Batyr' was a pseudonym for Nawrocki, and he was praising himself. Facing ridicule, Nawrocki said that literary pseudonyms 'are nothing new' and that he was the only historian in Poland 'who had the courage to study organised crime'. Today, Tusk said a parliamentary confidence vote to demonstrate support for his pro-EU camp after its election loss will be held on 11 June. 'The vote of confidence in the government will take place on Wednesday, June 11,' Tusk told reporters before a cabinet meeting. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
8 hours ago
- Irish Independent
St Catherine's in Wicklow still waiting for €16m to expand disability services
The IIP offered investors and their families residency visas, called immigration permissions, in Ireland in return for investing large sums of money in projects. The programme opened in 2012 and mostly consisted of Chinese investors. The fund was closed in February of 2023. In June of 2022, St Catherine's Association received planning permission for the construction of a two-storey administration centre, single storey adult day centre, respite centre incorporating four accommodation units at lands associated with the Holy Faith Convent in Kilcoole. However, they still can't access the IIP which was due to cover the cost of the works. Chair of the St Catherine's Association, Brendan Whelan, said: 'It's holding everything up and the irony is we are putting in facilities that the state should be putting in place anyway, and an organ of the state, the Department of Justice, are taking no accountability on the speedy delivery of the fund.' He said in his opinion 'to treat some of the most vulnerable people in society this way is scandalous'. Initially, St Catherine's Association put in an application for the IIP project so the Department of Justice could determine if they met the criteria. The overall fund pot of €16 million, which was due to be scheduled in two phases, starting with around €5.5 million for phase one, followed by the remainder in phase two, involving up to 40 donors. St Catherine's Association have so far received just €400,000 in October of 2023, which was spent on preliminary works, such as the cost of architects. In February, the Department of Justice requested some information from St Catherine's Association over an audit they were due to carry out, and were furnished with bank balances and invoices. 'It was all very straight forward and we provided all the information on February 26, detailing how we had spent most of the €400,000. From our interaction with the department, it doesn't seem that they have accessed the audit yet,' added Mr Whelan. He added: 'We have big plans for St Catherine's Association. The adult day care centre will give an opportunity to train and upskill adults who have finished school. We also have plans for a training and admin centre, as we currently operate out of the old nurses houses in the psychiatric hospital in Newcastle, which isn't ideal. We also plan to construct a respite centre just to provide some form of respite for local families. "There are also plans for a brand new school, which is separate and funded by the department. We aren't the only project being held up but it is becoming increasingly frustrating the longer every thing drags on.' Deputy Jennifer Whitmore has lent her support, and raised the issue with Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Deputy Colm Brophy, during a Dáil Éireann debate on Thursday. Deputy Whitmore stated: 'A charity in my home constituency of Wicklow, St. Catherine's Association, does incredible work. It is a voluntary association and has worked with children and young adults with intellectual disabilities for many years. It is an invaluable service for hundreds of families across and outside the county. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more 'It ensures that each child and young adult can meet their full potential and are fully included in and feel part of their community. The work the association does is so important. 'It is trying to expand its functions. It has planned and has approval for building an adult day centre, an administrative and training unit and four respite homes. This will increase the valuable services it provides. 'It applied for immigrant investor programme, IIP, funding in April 2022 and, three years later, still has not received it. As the Minister of State can imagine, that is causing huge difficulties for the charity. It has done all of the work and has the plans and designs in place. Planning permission has been granted. The diggers are ready, the land is available but the association has still not received any information from the department on when the funding will be provided. 'In July last year, the association was told it could finally access the donor funds, which is quite a significant sum, in the hundreds of thousands. Despite being told that, there is still no sign of the money. The association is becoming very worried at this point. 'There are 250 children and their families relying on St. Catherine's for services. It provides a function that in most countries would be provided by the government. Because of this we should absolutely pull out all the stops to make sure it can provide the best service that it can, with all the support it requires from the state.' In reply, Deputy Brophy said: 'In general terms, I can inform Deputy Whitmore that my department does not receive or hold funds at any stage in the IIP process, nor does it have any role in the administration of an approved project or investment fund. This is a private matter between a potential investor, or investors, and a potential project concerned. 'Approval of an application under the IIP is not an endorsement of a particular project. What it means is that the investor has been approved and the investment meets the objectives of the IIP. "The applicant in the IIP process is the investor and not the project owner. The State has no responsibility for the performance of an investment under the programme. This is a matter for the project owner to ensure delivery of an approved project within the timeframe set out in its business plan.' Deputy Whitmore labelled the response as 'incredibly disappointing'. She stated: 'It is also very confusing. In one part the Minister of State said it is a private matter between a potential investor and the project concerned and that, essentially, he has nothing to do with the administration of it. In another part, he said the immigrant investor programme was first introduced by the government and directed us to the department's immigration service website for information on it. "Clearly there is a role here for the government. Clearly the government set it up and facilitated it. The government has a responsibility to those charities which, as I said, are providing a service that the government is unable to, or will not, provide to ensure those charities, which applied in good faith for this programme under the auspices of the government, get the money they are due.'
Irish Independent
11 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Wicklow organisation supporting people with intellectual disabilities still waiting for funding of €16m
The IIP offered investors and their families residency visas, called immigration permissions, in Ireland in return for investing large sums of money in projects. The programme opened in 2012 and mostly consisted of Chinese investors. The fund was closed in February of 2023. In June of 2022, St Catherine's Association received planning permission for the construction of a two-storey administration centre, single storey adult day centre, respite centre incorporating four accommodation units at lands associated with the Holy Faith Convent in Kilcoole. However, they still can't access the IIP which was due to cover the cost of the works. Chair of the St Catherine's Association, Brendan Whelan, said: 'It's holding everything up and the irony is we are putting in facilities that the state should be putting in place anyway, and an organ of the state, the Department of Justice, are taking no accountability on the speedy delivery of the fund.' He said in his opinion 'to treat some of the most vulnerable people in society this way is scandalous'. Initially, St Catherine's Association put in an application for the IIP project so the Department of Justice could determine if they met the criteria. The overall fund pot of €16 million, which was due to be scheduled in two phases, starting with around €5.5 million for phase one, followed by the remainder in phase two, involving up to 40 donors. St Catherine's Association have so far received just €400,000 in October of 2023, which was spent on preliminary works, such as the cost of architects. In February, the Department of Justice requested some information from St Catherine's Association over an audit they were due to carry out, and were furnished with bank balances and invoices. 'It was all very straight forward and we provided all the information on February 26, detailing how we had spent most of the €400,000. From our interaction with the department, it doesn't seem that they have accessed the audit yet,' added Mr Whelan. He added: 'We have big plans for St Catherine's Association. The adult day care centre will give an opportunity to train and upskill adults who have finished school. We also have plans for a training and admin centre, as we currently operate out of the old nurses houses in the psychiatric hospital in Newcastle, which isn't ideal. We also plan to construct a respite centre just to provide some form of respite for local families. "There are also plans for a brand new school, which is separate and funded by the department. We aren't the only project being held up but it is becoming increasingly frustrating the longer every thing drags on.' Deputy Jennifer Whitmore has lent her support, and raised the issue with Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Deputy Colm Brophy, during a Dáil Éireann debate on Thursday. Deputy Whitmore stated: 'A charity in my home constituency of Wicklow, St. Catherine's Association, does incredible work. It is a voluntary association and has worked with children and young adults with intellectual disabilities for many years. It is an invaluable service for hundreds of families across and outside the county. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more 'It ensures that each child and young adult can meet their full potential and are fully included in and feel part of their community. The work the association does is so important. 'It is trying to expand its functions. It has planned and has approval for building an adult day centre, an administrative and training unit and four respite homes. This will increase the valuable services it provides. 'It applied for immigrant investor programme, IIP, funding in April 2022 and, three years later, still has not received it. As the Minister of State can imagine, that is causing huge difficulties for the charity. It has done all of the work and has the plans and designs in place. Planning permission has been granted. The diggers are ready, the land is available but the association has still not received any information from the department on when the funding will be provided. 'In July last year, the association was told it could finally access the donor funds, which is quite a significant sum, in the hundreds of thousands. Despite being told that, there is still no sign of the money. The association is becoming very worried at this point. 'There are 250 children and their families relying on St. Catherine's for services. It provides a function that in most countries would be provided by the government. Because of this we should absolutely pull out all the stops to make sure it can provide the best service that it can, with all the support it requires from the state.' In reply, Deputy Brophy said: 'In general terms, I can inform Deputy Whitmore that my department does not receive or hold funds at any stage in the IIP process, nor does it have any role in the administration of an approved project or investment fund. This is a private matter between a potential investor, or investors, and a potential project concerned. 'Approval of an application under the IIP is not an endorsement of a particular project. What it means is that the investor has been approved and the investment meets the objectives of the IIP. "The applicant in the IIP process is the investor and not the project owner. The State has no responsibility for the performance of an investment under the programme. This is a matter for the project owner to ensure delivery of an approved project within the timeframe set out in its business plan.' Deputy Whitmore labelled the response as 'incredibly disappointing'. She stated: 'It is also very confusing. In one part the Minister of State said it is a private matter between a potential investor and the project concerned and that, essentially, he has nothing to do with the administration of it. In another part, he said the immigrant investor programme was first introduced by the government and directed us to the department's immigration service website for information on it. "Clearly there is a role here for the government. Clearly the government set it up and facilitated it. The government has a responsibility to those charities which, as I said, are providing a service that the government is unable to, or will not, provide to ensure those charities, which applied in good faith for this programme under the auspices of the government, get the money they are due.'
