The Trader Harbor
  • Business
  • Politics
  • World News
  • Stocks
  • Business
  • Politics
  • World News
  • Stocks

The Trader Harbor

Politics

Pope Francis-era deal with Chinese Communist Party again under scrutiny as Pope Leo takes the reins

by admin May 10, 2025
May 10, 2025
Pope Francis-era deal with Chinese Communist Party again under scrutiny as Pope Leo takes the reins

A 2018 deal between the Vatican and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) secured by Cardinal Pietro Parolin is once again under scrutiny as questions remain over how newly appointed Pope Leo XIV will take on the CCP.

The Parolin-brokered deal was and remains a controversial agreement between the leaders of the Catholic Church and the CCP, which has long oppressed Catholics across China. 

While the agreement was championed by the late Pope Francis and his secretary of state, Parolin — the Vatican’s top diplomat — as a step toward ‘normalizing’ Catholicism in the communist nation, experts argue it has brought dangerous consequences for the faithful.

‘It erodes papal authority to appoint bishops, the leadership of the Catholic Church in China,’ Nina Shea, senior fellow and director of the Center for Religious Freedom at Hudson Institute, told Fox News Digital. 

‘A principal responsibility of a bishop is to train and ordain priests,’ she explained. ‘Therefore, the CCP has been given control in determining the chain of authority in the hierarchical church.’

Under this agreement, all Catholic clergy are required to register with the CCP’s Patriotic Association — which was created in 1957 and was long rejected by the Catholic Church as illegitimate because it required that all clergy reject foreign influence, including that of the pope.

Parolin in 2019 said the aim of this agreement was ‘to advance religious freedom in the sense of finding normalization for the Catholic community.’

Details of the deal remain unclear because it has been kept secret, explained Shea. 

While the agreement reportedly looked to end the decades-long negative ties between the Vatican and the CCP by allowing China to have more influence over bishop appointments, experts have argued for years it gave too much authority to the oppressive government. 

But there is an even greater problem when it comes to the Vatican seeming to have capitulated to the CCP.

Following the agreement, the Vatican additionally agreed to drop its support for the underground Catholic network, which has existed in China for decades and has supported millions of Catholics in the country.  

According to Shea, the CCP essentially ‘tricked’ the Vatican because it simultaneously, in what she believes was an unbeknownst move to Parolin, banned children from being allowed in the Catholic Church — this ban included important sacraments of the church like baptisms, holy communion and confirmations.

The ban effectively blocks the continuation of the Catholic Church in China.

‘The underground, even during the harshest period under Mao, carried out this education and evangelization,’ Shea said. ‘Without being able to perpetuate itself, the Catholic Church in China could die out in a couple generations.’

‘It’s a campaign to create an atheist society,’ she added. 

The Vatican did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s questions over whether Pope Leo will adhere to the agreement with the CCP or look to forge a new one.

But in his first homily on Friday since being made leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo highlighted the church’s fight against rising atheism.

‘There are many settings in which Jesus, although appreciated as a man, is reduced to a kind of charismatic leader or superman. This is true not only among non-believers but also among many baptized Christians, who thus end up living, at this level, in a state of practical atheism,’ he said. ‘These are contexts where it is not easy to preach the Gospel and bear witness to its truth, where believers are mocked, opposed, despised or at best tolerated and pitied.’

The pope said, for this reason, ‘missionary outreach is desperately needed.’

Pope Leo warned that a ‘lack of faith’ has led to not only a ‘loss of meaning in life’ for many, but also ‘the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society.’

While congratulatory messages were issued by leaders of Catholic and non-Catholic nations alike, China did not issue a similar message upon the pope’s appointment on Thursday.

In a Friday press conference, when asked about the Church’s new leader, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, ‘We hope that under the leadership of the new pope, the Vatican will continue to have dialogue with China in a constructive spirit, have in-depth communication on international issues of mutual interest, jointly advance the continuous improvement of the China-Vatican relations and make contributions to world peace, stability, development and prosperity.’ 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Trump says 80% tariff on China ‘seems right’ ahead of weekend talks with Beijing
next post
Trump’s tax hike proposal is ‘déjà vu’ of George H. W. Bush’s ‘read my lips’ moment, experts say

Related Posts

Dems eye possible Trump investigations if they win...

September 26, 2024

Camp David: Jimmy Carter’s finest moment

December 30, 2024

FBI issues spring break travel warning after American...

March 18, 2025

House Judiciary Committee investigates ‘manipulated’ evidence seized by...

May 8, 2024

Mike Pence aims to be ‘constructive force’ during...

February 18, 2025

Dem mayor’s spox defends meeting with controversial Chinese...

April 30, 2024

Hannity reveals what he told Trump after 2020...

January 23, 2025

Dems save Johnson’s $95B foreign aid plan from...

April 20, 2024

Special counsel Jack Smith resigns after 2-year stint...

January 12, 2025

Cornell Law professor calls to invoke 25th Amendment...

June 30, 2024

    Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive offers, and special promotions. Sign up now and be the first to know! As a member, you'll receive curated content, insider tips, and invitations to exclusive events. Don't miss out on being part of something special.


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Latest

    • Apple reveals complex system of App Store fees to avoid E.U. fine of 500 million euros

      June 30, 2025
    • Breakdown of NVDA’s Stock Price and S&P 500: Actionable Technical Insights

      June 30, 2025
    • Thom Tillis announces retirement from Senate after clash with Trump

      June 30, 2025
    • SCOOP: House Republican eyes bid for Thom Tillis Senate seat after Trump attack

      June 30, 2025
    • Dem delay tactic ends, debate begins on Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’

      June 30, 2025
    • GOP, Dem senators remain divided over Medicaid after Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ vote

      June 30, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (1,272)
    • Politics (3,873)
    • Stocks (1,477)
    • Uncategorized (45)
    • World News (1,265)
    • About us
    • Contact us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: TheTraderHarbor, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 thetraderharbor.com | All Rights Reserved