(Vatican) Roman Catholic Pope Francis stiffly approved China’s unilateral reassignment of Joseph Shen Bin to the Diocese of Shanghai several months ago. The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, still reiterates the Catholic Church’s desire for dialogue and hopes for the opening of a permanent Holy See liaison office in China. 

Vatican Response 

The Vatican issued a statement on the July 15th saying that Pope Francis approved the appointment of Joseph Shen Bin as the new bishop of the Shanghai Diocese. However, the Vatican chided Beijing for violating the bilateral agreement by failing to consult with the Vatican in advance. 

No Knowledge 

The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Parolin expressed to the media on the 15th that Beijing did not seek the opinion of the Pope nor inform him regarding the appointments of Bishop Joseph Shen Bin in Shanghai or Bishop John Peng Weizhao in Yujian, Jiangxi. The news was received with “surprise and regret.” 

Disregard of Spirit

The Secretary of State notes, this way of proceeding “seems to disregard the spirit of dialogue and collaboration established between the Vatican and the Chinese side over the years and to which is referred to in the Agreement.”  

Violation of Agreement

A few months ago, the Chinese government-backed and recognized Bishops Conference of the Catholic Church in China, transferred Bishop Joseph Shen Bin from Haimen Diocese in Jiangsu Province to the Shanghai Diocese. The Holy See did not approve the installation ceremony held for Joseph Shen Bin by the Chinese authorities, thus violating the agreement between the Vatican and China regarding the appointment of bishops. 

Shen Bin has been serving as the Bishop of Haimen in Zhejiang Province since 2010, and this appointment was approved by the Vatican. Shanghai Diocese is also recognized by the Vatican, but it has long been vacant due to strong interference and control by the Chinese government over the Vatican’s recognized suitable candidates. The Holy See also needs to evaluate whether the transfer of Bishop Joseph Shen Bin is appropriate, although he is an esteemed pastor.  

Pope Francis “decided nevertheless to rectify the canonical irregularity” for the “greater good of the diocese”. The delayed recognition by the Pope is fundamentally pastoral and is intended to provide Bishop Joseph Shen Bin with a greater sense of security in his commitment to promoting evangelization and church communion. At the same time, the Holy See hopes that he can reach an agreement with the authorities to facilitate the just and wise resolution of other pending issues in the Shanghai Diocese, such as the situation of the two auxiliary bishops, namely Bishop Ma Daqin (with the baptismal name Thaddeus) who is still impeded, and the retired Bishop Xing Wenzhi (with the baptismal name Joseph).  

Vatican-China Agreement

The Vatican and China signed a provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops on September 22, 2018, with a validity period of two years. It has since been renewed twice, first in 2020 and then in 2022. The text of the agreement has not yet been finally approved, and therefore, it remains confidential. 

Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Parolin, who is considered to be “pro-Beijing,” stated that the Holy See does not oppose the transfer of bishops in China. However, the problem  Cardinal Parolin reiterates “would arise if they were to proceed in a non-consensual manner,” while “the proper application of the Agreement allows for avoiding such difficulties.” It is important, even essential, that all episcopal appointments in China, including transfers, be conducted in accordance with the agreement and with the mutual consent of both parties, while maintaining a spirit of dialogue between them. 

Cardinal Parolin believes that: “regular communication of the Chinese Bishops is needed with the Bishop of Rome, indispensable for effective communion, knowing that all this belongs to the structure and doctrine of the Catholic Church, which the Chinese authorities have always said they do not want to alter.”  

Uncertain Future 

With such a precedent of violations and retroactive recognition, no one knows for sure whether the Bishops Conference of the Catholic Church in China, with its background, will continue to unilaterally reassign, or even unilaterally appoint bishops again, in defiance of the bilateral agreement between Beijing and the Vatican. 

~Gao Zhensai, Special Correspondent of ChinaAid