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Vatican: Pope Benedict XVI approved bishop accord with China

It is defending a deal it did with the Chinese government in 2018.
Pope Benedict XVI
Posted at 7:56 AM, Oct 03, 2020
and last updated 2020-10-03 07:56:00-04

ROME (AP) — The Vatican is doubling down on its intent to pursue continued dialogue with China over bishop nominations.

It is defending a deal it did with the Chinese government in 2018 as necessary to the life of the Catholic Church there, over strong U.S. objections.

The Vatican secretary of state gave the Holy See’s most authoritative and comprehensive response to critics of the accord during a speech Saturday. He insisted that popes as far back as Pius XII had tried to reopen a path of dialogue with Beijing after the communists came to power and expelled foreign missionaries.