Critics argue the pact legitimizes China’s control over church affairs, while defenders say it helps support Catholics faithful to the Vatican in the Communist country.

Pope Francis remains enthusiastic about the Vatican’s provisional agreement with China on the appointment of bishops. He recently told journalists it is a “good result” of dialogue. Yet repression against the Catholic Church in China has intensified since the deal was signed in 2018.

The Chinese government says it has agreed with the Vatican to extend a provisional agreement on the appointment of Catholic bishops in China for four more years

China and the Vatican have agreed to extend an agreement on the appointment of bishops in China for a longer period of four years, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday. The two sides will continue to hold talks in a constructive manner and advance the improvement of relations,

China and the Vatican have agreed to extend an accord on the appointment of Catholic bishops in the communist country for a period of four years, the two parties said on Tuesday. The Vatican struck a landmark deal with the Beijing government in 2018.