Shortly before Christmas, the Vatican sent a delegation to China to discuss the controversial deal unveiled in September. The pact’s wording remains a guarded secret, but it is believed to give the officially atheist, authoritarian Chinese government the right to appoint Catholic bishops. The Pope is said to have power of veto.
When the “provisional agreement” was announced, the Vatican rehabilitated eight government-backed bishops who were formerly excommunicated or otherwise considered illegitimate. The Holy See has since asked two “underground” bishops, who refused to compromise with the communist regime, to step aside so that two recently reconciled bishops could take over their dioceses.
