China-Vatican deal

The Latest

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.

Vatican-China deal ‘not the best deal possible,’ top Holy See diplomat says

Mar 14, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher said that negotiations are underway to make the the Vatican-China deal “work better.” Read more

Pilgrims from China greets Pope Francis during his general weekly audience in St. Peter's Square on May 22, 2019, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis says dialogue ‘slow,’ but only way forward with China

Nov 28, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

In a new interview with America Magazine, the pope said the Vatican-China deal has had failures and successes, but he... Read more

The installation ceremony of Bishop John Peng Weizhao in Nanchang, China, on Nov. 24, 2022.

Analysis: Is the Vatican’s deal with China at stake?

Nov 28, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The agreement between China and the Holy See on the appointment of bishops is not at risk — for now. Read more

A worshiper waves the flag of China as Pope Francis leaves following the weekly general audience on June 12, 2019, at St. Peter's square in the Vatican.

Vatican says China violated terms of agreement with bishop installation

Nov 26, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The Holy See “noted with surprise and regret” that Bishop John Peng Weizhao had been installed as an “auxiliary bishop... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen.

Without mentioning Zen's arrest, Pope Francis says he is praying for the Church in China

May 22, 2022

By CNA Staff

Speaking to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Regina Caeli prayer on May 22, Pope Francis did not... Read more

The flags of the People’s Republic of China and of Vatican City.

Are diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Beijing on the horizon?

Feb 11, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Two personnel moves have prompted speculation that the Vatican is changing its diplomatic strategy. Read more

British human rights campaigner Benedict Rogers

Human rights activist: Diplomatic relations between Vatican and China would be ‘totally unacceptable’

Feb 7, 2022

By CNA Staff

The Vatican recently moved officials from posts in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Read more

The episcopal consecration of Bishop Stephen Chow Sau-yan's in Hong Kong’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 4, 2021

Chinese bishops reportedly met with Hong Kong clerics on sinicization

Dec 31, 2021

By CNA Staff

Four clerics have told Reuters that several bishops and other officials from the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association met in October... Read more

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How the Chinese Communist Party sees organized religion

Oct 18, 2021

By Matt Hadro

The Chinese Communist Party is targeting organized religion as a threat – even seeking to “change” or “transform” it into... Read more

The episcopal ordination of Francis Cui Qingqi in Wuhan, China, on Sept. 8, 2021.

New Wuhan bishop consecrated under terms of Vatican-China deal

Sep 8, 2021

By Courtney Mares

He is the sixth bishop to be consecrated under the deal signed in 2018. Read more

Catholics carry a portrait of the Virgin Mary in China’s Hebei Province on May 26, 2013.

Catholics in China told to celebrate communist party and forgo Marian pilgrimage

Aug 13, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Catholic dioceses across China hosted celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) this year, while pilgrimages... Read more

Credit: FreshStock/Shutterstock

No shrine from China in the 'rosary marathon' against the pandemic

May 13, 2021

By Andrea Gagliarducci

There was some hope that the Marian Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Sheshan, in the People's Republic of... Read more

China & Vatican flags. Image via Shutterstock.

Vatican thanks Chinese groups for donations to combat coronavirus

Apr 9, 2020

The Vatican has thanked Chinese organizations for donating medical supplies to help it combat the coronavirus.  Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen. Courtesy Photo.

Cardinal Zen: 'Parolin manipulates the pope,' and Vatican's China policy is 'immoral'

Mar 20, 2020

Cardinal Joseph Zen published Saturday a blog post accusing the Vatican’s secretary of state of manipulating Pope Francis, and continuing... Read more

The flags of the People's Republic of China and of Vatican City.

Chinese campaigns to control Christianity worsened in 2019, watchdog says

Mar 10, 2020

The Chinese government’s campaign to develop “religion with Chinese characteristics” has increased persecution of the country’s Christians, the human rights... Read more

Catholic pray outside of a Catholic Church in Nanma, June 2019.

Chinese Catholics pray outside closed churches in Mindong

Mar 2, 2020

New pictures and video appear to show Catholics praying outside of churches closed by the government in the Diocese of... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong, speaks at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, Nov. 18, 2014.

Cardinal Zen invites Cardinal Re to show claimed China documents from Vatican archive

Mar 2, 2020

Cardinal Zen on Sunday responded to the claim of the Dean of the College of Cardinals that Benedict XVI had... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun departs the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, Nov. 18, 2014.

Cardinal Re claims Cardinal Zen is at odds with John Paul II, Benedict XVI on China

Feb 29, 2020

The newly-appointed Dean of the College of Cardinals purportedly sent a letter to cardinals Wednesday claiming that the China-Vatican deal... Read more

Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See, meets with Wang Yi, China's foreign minister, in Munich, Feb. 14, 2020.

Chinese media: Recent meeting of Sino-Vatican diplomats was pope's idea

Feb 19, 2020

The Vatican secretary for relations with states, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, met with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of... Read more

Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See, meets with Wang Yi, China's foreign minister, in Munich, Feb. 14, 2020.

Vatican, Chinese diplomats discuss deal on bishop appointments

Feb 14, 2020

Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See, met Friday with Wang Yi, the Chinese foreign... Read more