The Vatican is close to a deal with China’s communist government on the naming of bishops for several dioceses, according to media reports. Reuters and the Wall Street Journal reported that the deal would involve two bishops recognised by the Holy See stepping aside to make way for bishops chosen by the government-controlled Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association. The new bishops would have to recognise the authority of the Pope and ask forgiveness for having accepted ordination without papal approval. Both articles relied on unnamed sources at the Vatican. Greg Burke, director of the Vatican press office, declined to comment. The reports coincided with claims made by Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, the retired archbishop of Hong Kong, who said that last month he had met Pope Francis to express his opposition to the plan and to deliver into his hands a letter from one of the bishops involved. Bishop Peter Zhuang Jianjian of Shantou, who is 88, told ucanews.com that he had met Vatican officials in Beijing in December. Earlier, the news site had reported that Bishop Zhuang, who is recognised by the Vatican, was asked to retire to make way for a bishop who was excommunicated after being appointed by the patriotic association and illicitly ordained. Reuters reported that under the agreement, the government would recognise Bishop Zhuang as the “emeritus” bishop and his successor would be reconciled with the Holy See. Also under the agreement, according to Reuters, Bishop Vincent Guo Xijin, 59, of Mindong, another Vatican-recognised bishop, would become the auxiliary bishop of the diocese and serve under the government-approved bishop of the diocese, Bishop Zhan Silu, 57. According to Reuters’s source, both Vatican-backed prelates recognised that they would be making sacrifices for the greater good of the Church. In addition, the source said, there was a “gentleman’s agreement” on seven government-backed bishops who would be made legitimate after seeking a papal pardon, but that it still had to be formalised. The overall agreement foresees the patriotic association choosing bishops, but submitting the names to the Vatican for final approval. “It is not a great agreement, but we don’t know what the situation will be like in 10 or 20 years. It could even be worse,” the source told Reuters. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, noted in an interview last week that “communion between the Bishop of Rome and all Catholic bishops touches the heart of the Church’s unity: it is not a private matter between the Pope and the Chinese bishops or between the Apostolic See and civil authorities.” After his meeting with the Pope, Cardinal Zen said he believed the Vatican was “selling out” the Church in China. He said Francis told him that he had asked his advisers to avoid “another Mindszenty case”. Cardinal József Mindszenty was imprisoned by communists in the former Soviet Union and later exiled to the US embassy. The Vatican then issued a statement saying that the Pope was in “constant contact” with his advisers, and that it was “surprising and regrettable that the contrary is affirmed by people in the Church”.