VATICAN (SE): The Vatican announced an extension of the Provisional Agreement regarding the Appointment of Bishops for another four years, Vatican News reported on October 22.
The agreement was first signed in 2018 and has been extended twice before.
“In light of the consensus reached for the effective implementation of the Provisional Agreement regarding the Appointment of Bishops, after appropriate consultation and assessment, the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China have agreed to extend its validity for four more years from the present date,” said a communiqué released by the Holy See Press Office.
The communiqué further stated, “The Vatican remains committed to fostering respectful and constructive dialogue with the Chinese government, aiming to advance bilateral relations for the benefit of both the Catholic Church in China and the Chinese people as a whole.”
The Associated Press reported that China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, confirmed the extension saying, “The two sides will maintain contact and dialogue in a constructive spirit and continue to promote the improvement of China-Vatican relations.”
