Cardinal Parolin says China accord ‘beginning to bear some fruit’
January 13, 2025
» Continue to this story on Vatican News
CWN Editor's Note: Cardinal Pietro Parolin said that the secret Vatican accord with China is “beginning to bear some fruit,” but conceded that those fruits “might not yet be visible,” in an interview with Vatican News.
In the same interview the Vatican Secretary of State expressed his hope that “a new era can begin for Syria,” allowing freedom and security for all people, after years of civil war. He voiced satisfaction with statements from the new ruling regime that guaranteed freedom of worship for Christians, but added: “We truly hope that these statements will be followed by actions.”
Regarding the China accord, Cardinal Parolin said that the goal is to ensure that all Chinese bishops are in full communion with Rome. On that front, he said, things are “progressively slowly—sometimes even taking a step backwards—but moving in the right direction.” He said that he understands why some criticize the Vatican approach, but called for patience in evaluating its results.
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Posted by: Randal Mandock -
Jan. 13, 2025 2:03 PM ET USA
Patience might be easy for us, but what about for the millions in the "underground" Church that continue to be persecuted, bulldozed, and jailed for their adherence to the pure Catholic faith, the faith without "Chinese characteristics". How many Chinese children are legally permmitted to learn the unsinicized faith, to enter a Catholic church, to be raised in the pure Catholic faith? Consider this: Whether I attend Mass in Spain, Mexico, or anywhere else, I find the Mass not culturally bound.
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Posted by: feedback -
Jan. 13, 2025 1:57 PM ET USA
"...taking a step backwards - but moving in the right direction." I dread to think that the rabidly anti-Christian communist party of China and the current Pope could agree on what is "the right direction" for the Catholic Church. And I dread to think that this could be the actual reason for keeping the Vatican-China agreement secret.
