Angelus News | February 23, 2024 | Vol. 9 No. 4

charge several high-profile activists, including
several prominent Catholics; or
when Cardinal Joseph Zen, the retired
bishop of Hong Kong, was arrested and
convicted by a Hong Kong court with
several others in 2022 for their pro-democracy
advocacy.
The Vatican barely let out a whisper
last year when Chinese authorities
repeatedly violated the terms of the
2018 provisional agreement between
China and the Holy See on episcopal
appointments.
To the consternation of many, the
terms of that agreement remain secret,
prompting criticism that it has induced
the Vatican to remain mute on China’s
record on human rights and religious
freedom.
Last spring, the Vatican simply issued
brief statements voicing concern after
China made several unilateral transfers
of bishops without Rome’s knowledge
or consent, including the November
2022 transfer of Bishop Pen Weizhao
to the Diocese of Jiangxi and the April
2023 transfer of Bishop Shen Bin to
Shanghai.
Rather than condemning such blatant
violations of their agreement, Vatican
officials have instead used these transfers
to push forward efforts to strengthen
ties.
In the case of the unauthorized transfer
of Shen Bin to Shanghai on April
4, 2023, the pope’s approval was only
announced three months later. That
announcement was accompanied by an
interview published by Vatican News,
the Holy See’s official information platform,
in which Parolin expressed hope
that a resident papal representative to
Beijing could soon be named.
Francis also offered a direct friendly
greeting to the “noble Chinese people”
during his final Mass in Mongolia last
summer, and he also recently held a
meeting with a delegation from the National
Federation Italy-China in honor
of the Chinese New Year.
With the 2018 provisional agreement
up for renewal for a third time this fall,
it appears there is an effort to accelerate
the move toward strengthened ties, with
more bishops being named in the span
of one week at the end of last month
than have been named for the entire
duration of the 2018 agreement thus far.
Last month, the Vatican announced
the suppression of the Apostolic Prefecture
of Yiduxian in China and the
establishment of the Diocese of Weifang,
marking the first formal creation
of a new diocese by the Holy See in
China since the Communist revolution
in 1949.
The Jan. 29 Vatican statement said
the decision to replace the Yiduxian
prefecture was made on April 20, 2023
— notably, in the interim between the
unauthorized transfer of Shen Bin and
the pope’s acceptance of that move
— and that at the same time, Bishop
Anthony Sun Wenjun, 53, had been
appointed to lead the diocese.
Days before, on Jan. 25, the Vatican
announced the ordination of a new
bishop for the Diocese of Zhengzou,
who it said had been appointed by the
pope on Dec. 16, 2023, “in the framework
of the Provisional Agreement
between the Holy See and the People’s
Republic of China.”
Then again on Jan. 31, the Vatican
announced a third episcopal appointment
in China, revealing that Bishop
Pietro Wu Yishun, named bishop of the
Apostolic Prefecture of Shaowu, Minbei,
in the province of Fujian on Dec.
16, 2023, had been ordained a bishop
earlier that day.
The most important takeaway from
this slew of appointments — together
with last year’s appointment of a resident
papal representative to Vietnam
— is that the Vatican is eager for diplomatic
progress in the Far East.
While the pope’s words on Nicaragua
resounded in news headlines, his
actions on China have also sent a clear
message about his intentions and priorities,
and as the old adage goes, actions
often speak louder than words.
Elise Ann Allen is a senior correspondent
for Crux in Rome, covering the
Vatican and the global Church.
In this file photo, China’s flag is seen as Pope Francis greets the crowd during his general audience in St. Peter’s
Square at the Vatican June 15, 2016. | CNS/PAUL HARING
February 23, 2024 • ANGELUS • 25