Last Sunday marked the first anniversary of the “provisional agreement” between China and the Holy See. It was the result of decades of diplomatic efforts, beginning during the pontificate of John Paul II. The deal may come to be regarded as one of the most significant events of 21st-century Church history.
What is striking, one year on, is just how little we still know about the pact. When the Vatican announced the breakthrough last September it provided few details. It certainly did not reveal the text of the deal. Despite the best efforts of journalists over the past 12 months, the document remains secret. We can only speculate on the reasons for this. Perhaps one or both sides conceded more than they wish to acknowledge publicly. But we do not know.
