GOOD MORNING FROM LONDON
POPE FRANCIS AND CHINA
POPE FRANCIS AND RUSSIA
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
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Victor Gaetan is Senior International Correspondent for National Catholic Register and the author of God’s Diplomats; Pope Francis; Vatican Diplomacy; America’s Armageddon.
“…And during Francis’s papacy, the Vatican itself made strident efforts to cross geopolitical divides, devoting particular diplomatic attention to China. Before Francis, mutual suspicion had overwhelmed efforts to resolve a long-standing rift between Beijing and Rome. But when China selected its new leader on Francis’s first day in office, the pope wrote a personal letter of congratulations to Xi Jinping. Xi responded cordially, to the surprise of some Vatican staff.
Two popes before Francis had tried and failed to find a modus operandi with Beijing. Francis was especially persistent, instructing his diplomats to keep talking with their Chinese counterparts even when they faced setbacks. In earlier negotiations, unilateral decisions in Beijing had caused discussions to break down. But under Francis, the Vatican was undeterred, and eventually it made a breakthrough.
Francis’s diplomacy in China faced extensive criticism, especially from the first Trump administration. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo even wrote an essay in 2020 castigating the Vatican for its deal with Beijing. (In response, the Vatican rejected Pompeo’s request to meet the pope weeks later.) But being seen to oppose Washington boosted the Vatican’s reputation for geopolitical independence—an identity Francis cultivated. After he returned from his trip to Asia last September, for example, he told his weekly audience with thousands of faithful in Rome, “We are still too Eurocentric, or as they say, ‘Western.’ But in reality, the Church is much bigger, much bigger than Rome and Europe, much bigger!”
In addition to his approach to China, Francis split from Western powers in his response to the war in Ukraine. He opposed sanctions against Russia, following the church’s long-standing position that sanctions should not be used as a diplomatic weapon because they harm the well-being of regular people.
As conflict escalated in Ukraine, Francis refused to demonize Russia. Instead, he spoke about the tragedy of “fratricide” between Christian brothers. He often accused arms merchants of fomenting war. He even dared to suggest that NATO expansion—which he described as “NATO barking at Russia’s door”—contributed to Russia’s decision to invade. To be sure, he condemned the war and offered public prayers for the “martyred Ukrainian people,” even from his hospital bed, but he never levelled a personal charge against Russian President Vladimir Putin.”
GRAHAM PERRY COMMENTS;-
Francis wanted to bring China into a relationship with the Vatican. He succeeded where his predecessors had failed because he agreed – with Beijing – a solution to the years long problem. Who was to appoint Catholic Bishops in China? In the past the Vatican had remained inflexible – it had to be the Vatican. China, too, had been inflexible – it had to be China.
A sensible solution came into view – China and the Vatican would jointly appoint Catholic Bishops in China. China could reject a Vatican nomination and China could reject a Vatican nomination. The solution made sense. It maintained control for China and the Vatican over the identity of new Bishops. If the Vatican proposed a name that did not find favour in China, the nomination would not proceed. And vice-versa. Common sense prevailed. The two sides observed the formula and appointments have been made and neither side has conceded any power of appointment.
For the Vatican it was crucial that they remained in control of the identity of new Bishops. For China it was equally crucial. The Vatican did not want their new Bishops selected by China and China did not want their new Bishops selected by the Vatican. Both sides had arguments in their favour.
For the Vatican; if China had been allowed to have the sole right of appointment it would have created a precedent that other countries would have sought to follow. For China; if the Vatican had been allowed to have the sole right of appointment it would have enabled a foreign body to control the direction of travel for China’s many Catholics. The solution was satisfactory to both sides and the work of the Catholic Church in China continues. The Vatican can feel pleased that an awkward sticking point had a successful outcome. China can feel pleased because its Catholics feel at ease with the procedure by which their leaders are appointed.
There is a further point. China is often presented as the persecutor of religious Chinese. Reports cite alleged closure of Churches and destruction of monuments as evidence of interference with the right to worship. By participating in the administration of the Catholic Church and the appointment of Chinese Bishops, the Chinese Government is being seen to be true to its word and allowing Catholics to practice as Catholics.
Finally – China’s population is 1.4 billion. The Catholic Church has an estimated world following also of 1.4 billion. Both sides will be pleased that a breakthrough has been made – the significance for Catholics is that the change was achieved by Pope Francis. Equally, the significance for China is that the change was achieved by Xi Jinping. The solution opens up a new future where trust and confidence between Beijing and Rome is on a firmer footing. China will be pleased to have improved relations with the Vatican and the Vatican will look to bring the Chinese Catholics within the orbit of Vatican influence.
The lesson will not be lost on Taiwan. While much is heard of hard-headed separatists looking to perpetuate the division with Beijing, it is also the case that the rapprochement between Beijing and the Vatican will give impetus to the ambitions of Xi Jinping to bring the people of Taiwan back into common citizenship with China. If the Vatican is willing to be embraced by Beijing it sends a message to the people of Taiwan about the willingness of Beijing to find a win-win solution for China and the people of Taiwan.
GRAHAM PERRY
