(Martin Pollard, Reuters) China's Foreign Ministry said on Monday it
was unaware "of the specific issue" after the Vatican accused Chinese
authorities of violating a bilateral pact on the appointment of bishops
by installing one in a diocese not recognised by the Holy See. The Vatican said it learned with "surprise and regret" that the bishop of another district had been installed as auxiliary, or assistant, bishop in China's Jiangxi province.The
appointment appeared to be one of the most serious violations of a 2018
agreement between the Vatican and Beijing on the appointment of
bishops. Asked about the Vatican's
statement, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said he was
"not aware of the specific issue you mention". "What I wish to stress is that in recent
years China and the Vatican have maintained contact, reached a series of
important consensus, China-Vatican relations continue to improve and
also promote the harmonious development of Chinese Catholicism," he
added. "The Central Government is
willing to continuously expand the consensus of friendship with the
Vatican side and work together to uphold the spirit of the interim
agreement." (...)
