Instant International
Written by: Xu Yi'an
2020-09-15 15:26
Last update date: 2020-09-15 15:31
British media quoted high-level sources from the Holy See as saying on September 14 that Pope Francis has signed and approved the extension of the bishop appointment agreement with China for a period of 2 years, and the text has not been changed, and Hong Kong will not be changed. Included in the scope of the agreement.
This two-year interim agreement came into effect on October 22, 2018. The following pope under the agreement has the final decision on the candidates for bishops, but it is about to expire.
Reuters quoted a source on the 15th as saying that if the Chinese side also agrees to extend the validity period, the agreement will continue to be implemented as it is, and it is generally believed that China will have no objection.
The anonymous source said: "We think it is prudent to extend it for another two years." He also said that the church officials involved in the agreement proposed to extend the validity period, and Francis also agreed.
Reuters mentioned that some Catholics in Asia are worried about China's pressure on the Holy See to include Hong Kong in the scope of the extended agreement, but this source denied this and "(the content of the agreement) has not changed."
But the agreement text is still secret.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said in Beijing last week that China also hopes to extend the agreement, "The two sides will continue to maintain close communication and consultations, and continue to promote the process of improving relations."
The Minister of State of the Holy See, Pietro Parolin, told reporters on the 14th that he thinks Beijing will want to extend the agreement, and he hopes so.
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