BFF-36 Vatican announces historic China accord to appoint bishops

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BFF-36

VATICAN-CHINA-RELIGION-POLITICS

Vatican announces historic China accord to appoint bishops

VILNIUS, Sept 22, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – The Vatican announced Saturday it had
reached an historic accord with China on the appointment of bishops in the
Communist country which has so far named its own officials to a sole Beijing-
recognised Catholic church.

The agreement follows “a gradual and reciprocal rapprochement (and) has
been agreed following a long process of careful negotiation and foresees the
possibility of periodic reviews of its application,” the Vatican said in a
statement issued as Pope Francis visits the Baltic states.

“It concerns the nomination of Bishops, a question of great importance for
the life of the Church, and creates the conditions for greater collaboration
at the bilateral level,” it added.

BSS/AFP/ARS/1648 hrs