Vatican Accuses China of Violating Agreement

The Vatican has raised concerns regarding China's adherence to a bilateral agreement concerning the appointment of bishops. The agreement was intended to foster cooperation between the Vatican and the Chinese government in the selection of bishops for the Catholic Church in China. However, the Vatican accused China of breaching this agreement when it appointed John Peng Weizhao as an auxiliary bishop without prior approval from the Vatican. This incident highlighted ongoing tensions between the two entities, particularly regarding the autonomy of the Catholic Church in China and the influence of the Chinese government in ecclesiastical matters. Furthermore, the situation escalated when the Chinese government appointed Joseph Shen Bin as the bishop of Shanghai, also without Vatican consent. Although Pope Francis later recognized Shen Bin's appointment, the lack of prior consultation raised further questions about the integrity of the agreement and the future of Catholicism in China.