Latest news with #CatholicPatrioticAssociation
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
China gets new Catholic bishop, as Pope Leo continues deal over appointments
Pope Leo XIV leads the mass for the Jubilee of the Ecclesial Movements, Associations and New Communities, in St. Peter square at the Vatican, June 8, 2025. REUTERS/ Remo Casilli VATICAN CITY - A new assistant Catholic bishop was installed on Wednesday for Fuzhou, the capital of China's southeastern Fujian province, signalling that the Vatican's accord with Beijing over Catholic bishop appointments will continue under Pope Leo XIV. Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan, 73, was appointed by Leo within the framework of a diplomatic deal originally struck in 2018 that gives Chinese officials some input into papal appointments. Michel Chambon, an academic who has written extensively on the Chinese Church, said Wednesday's installation indicates that both parties want to continue with the accord. "It is a willingness to support reconciliation instead of antagonism," said Chambon, a research fellow at the Asia Research Institute in Singapore. Some conservative Catholics have criticized the Vatican-China deal, which was negotiated under the late Pope Francis. The critics say it gives too much influence to China's ruling communists, who have kept a tight rein on religious practice since taking power in 1949. The Vatican stresses that the pope retains final decision-making power and says the accord resolves a decades-long split between an underground church swearing loyalty to the Vatican and the state-supervised Catholic Patriotic Association. Lin had previously been ordained a bishop in the underground church in 2017. The Vatican said in a brief statement that it had "learned with satisfaction" that his role had been officially recognized by the government. "This event constitutes another fruit of the dialogue between the Holy See and Chinese authorities and is a significant step," it said. As part of Wednesday's ceremony, Lin swore to abide by Chinese laws and to safeguard social harmony, according to a report on social media provided by the Catholic Patriotic Association. Across China there are about 5 million Catholics in a total population of 1.4 billion, the Vatican estimates. The Vatican and China last renewed their accord in October 2024, for a further period of four years. The text of the deal has never been published, but only described by diplomatic officials. — Reuters
ABC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Pope Leo XIV appoints Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan to continue deal with China over appointments
A new Chinese bishop has been installed by Pope Leo XIV, signalling that a controversial Vatican accord with Beijing over Catholic bishop appointments will continue under his papacy. Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan, 73, was appointed by Leo as an assistant in Fuzhou, capital of Fuijan province. The announcement was made within the framework of a diplomatic deal originally struck in 2018 that gives Chinese officials some input into papal appointments. Some conservative Catholics have criticised the Vatican-China deal, which was negotiated under the late Pope Francis, saying it gives too much influence to China's ruling communists, who have kept a tight rein on religious practice since taking power in 1949. The Vatican stresses that the pope retains final decision-making power, and says the accord resolves a decades-long split between an underground church swearing loyalty to the Vatican, and the state-supervised Catholic Patriotic Association. Lin had previously been ordained a bishop in the underground church in 2017. The Vatican said in a brief statement that it had "learned with satisfaction" that his role had been officially recognised by the government. "This event constitutes another fruit of the dialogue between the Holy See and Chinese authorities and is a significant step," it said. Michel Chambon, an academic who has written extensively on Christianity in Asia and the Chinese church, said the installation indicates that both parties want to continue with the accord. As part of Wednesday's ceremony, Lin swore to abide by Chinese laws and to safeguard social harmony, according to a report on social media provided by the Catholic Patriotic Association. Across China there are about 5 million Catholics in a total population of 1.4 billion, the Vatican estimates. The Vatican and China last renewed their accord in October 2024, for a further period of four years. The text of the deal has never been published, but only described by diplomatic officials. Reuters/ABC
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
China gets new Catholic bishop, as Pope Leo continues deal over appointments
(Amends paragraphs 7,9 to change to the bishop's surname) By Joshua McElwee VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -A new assistant Catholic bishop was installed on Wednesday for Fuzhou, the capital of China's southeastern Fujian province, signalling that the Vatican's accord with Beijing over Catholic bishop appointments will continue under Pope Leo. Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan, 73, was appointed by Leo within the framework of a diplomatic deal originally struck in 2018 that gives Chinese officials some input into papal appointments. Michel Chambon, an academic who has written extensively on the Chinese Church, said Wednesday's installation indicates that both parties want to continue with the accord. "It is a willingness to support reconciliation instead of antagonism," said Chambon, a research fellow at the Asia Research Institute in Singapore. Some conservative Catholics have criticized the Vatican-China deal, which was negotiated under the late Pope Francis. The critics say it gives too much influence to China's ruling communists, who have kept a tight rein on religious practice since taking power in 1949. The Vatican stresses that the pope retains final decision-making power and says the accord resolves a decades-long split between an underground church swearing loyalty to the Vatican and the state-supervised Catholic Patriotic Association. Lin had previously been ordained a bishop in the underground church in 2017. The Vatican said in a brief statement that it had "learned with satisfaction" that his role had been officially recognised by the government. "This event constitutes another fruit of the dialogue between the Holy See and Chinese authorities and is a significant step," it said. As part of Wednesday's ceremony, Lin swore to abide by Chinese laws and to safeguard social harmony, according to a report on social media provided by the Catholic Patriotic Association. Across China there are about 5 million Catholics in a total population of 1.4 billion, the Vatican estimates. The Vatican and China last renewed their accord in October 2024, for a further period of four years. The text of the deal has never been published, but only described by diplomatic officials.
Straits Times
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
China expresses condolences over death of Pope Francis
FILE PHOTO: Newly elected Pope Francis appears at the window of his future private apartment to bless the faithful, gathered below in St. Peter's Square, during the Sunday Angelus prayer at the Vatican March 17, 2013. REUTERS/Tony Gentile/File Photo BEIJING - China's foreign ministry on Tuesday expressed condolences over the death of Pope Francis, but said it had no information to share on who might attend the funeral. China and the Vatican have in recent years maintained constructive contact and carried out beneficial exchanges, ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a regular news briefing in Beijing. China is willing to work with the Vatican to continue to improve bilateral relations, Guo said. The two countries in October last year extended for four years a landmark 2018 agreement on the appointment of Catholic bishops in China. The renewal suggested improving ties between Beijing and the Vatican despite tension over Taiwan, the democratically-governed island China claims as its own and with which the Vatican has formal diplomatic relations. On Tuesday, Guo said the agreement for appointing bishops has been "implemented smoothly". Conservative Catholics have criticised the deal, which has never been publicly released, as handing too much control to China's ruling communist party. The Vatican says the accord resolved a decades-long split between an underground church loyal to the Vatican and the state-supervised Catholic Patriotic Association. Guo said he had no information to provide when asked about whether China would send any representatives to attend Francis' funeral, which is scheduled for Saturday. The Vatican estimates about 5 million of China's 1.4 billion people are Catholic. Taiwan has yet to announce who it is sending to the funeral, though Taiwanese presidents have attended some major Vatican events in recent years, including Francis' inaugural mass in 2013. Speaking in Taipei earlier on Tuesday, Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei said the ministry will "continue to push for senior government" participation at the funeral given the "profound" friendship between Taiwan and the Vatican. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Asahi Shimbun
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
China expresses condolences over death of Pope Francis
People bow to pay their respects in front of a portrait of Pope Francis displayed inside Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul on April 22, 2025, a day after his death. (Pool via (REUTERS) BEIJING--China's foreign ministry on Tuesday expressed condolences over the death of Pope Francis, but said it had no information to share on who might attend the funeral. China and the Vatican have in recent years maintained constructive contact and carried out beneficial exchanges, ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a regular news briefing in Beijing. China is willing to work with the Vatican to continue to improve bilateral relations, Guo said. The two countries in October last year extended for four years a landmark 2018 agreement on the appointment of Catholic bishops in China. The renewal suggested improving ties between Beijing and the Vatican despite tension over Taiwan, the democratically-governed island China claims as its own and with which the Vatican has formal diplomatic relations. On Tuesday, Guo said the agreement for appointing bishops has been 'implemented smoothly'. Conservative Catholics have criticized the deal, which has never been publicly released, as handing too much control to China's ruling communist party. The Vatican says the accord resolved a decades-long split between an underground church loyal to the Vatican and the state-supervised Catholic Patriotic Association. Guo said he had no information to provide when asked about whether China would send any representatives to attend Francis' funeral, which is scheduled for Saturday. The Vatican estimates about 5 million of China's 1.4 billion people are Catholic. Taiwan has yet to announce who it is sending to the funeral, though Taiwanese presidents have attended some major Vatican events in recent years, including Francis' inaugural mass in 2013. Speaking in Taipei earlier on Tuesday, Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei said the ministry will 'continue to push for senior government' participation at the funeral given the 'profound' friendship between Taiwan and the Vatican.
