In a few days, Mike Pompeo will visit the Vatican, but he has already made his intentions known. The U.S. Secretary of State, on Twitter, says, “The Vatican endangers its moral authority, should it renew the deal” with China.
He's referring to the provisional agreement that took effect on Sept. 22, 2018. It allows the Vatican to name new bishops for the country.
In this period, the Vatican has been able to name only five new bishops. Now, the Holy See and Beijing are deciding whether or not to renew the deal.
Despite the agreement's importance, Gerry O'Connell notes that there are other matters to consider, not just the situation with the bishops. For instance, the situation for the underground Church remains critical.
GERARD O'CONNELL
Vaticanist, “America Magazine”
“They did not touch, in that agreement, the question of the underground Church, what is called the underground Church—in other words, those who are not officially recognized as priests or community. What we have seen is that there is certainly repression. There is a harder line towards religion than, say, before Xi Jinping came to power.”
Mike Pompeo made this declaration a year ago, with this speech in the Vatican. Referring to China, he said, “When the state rules absolutely, God becomes an absolute threat to authority.”
MIKE POMPEO
U.S. Secretary of State
Oct. 2, 2019
“We humbly ask the Holy See to join us. We ask the representatives of all nations present here today to join us. What could be more powerful than our voices all together, calling for the freedom to worship God?”
The Communist Party in Beijing is also opposed to the deal's renewal, out of fear that the Vatican will put pressure to promote religious freedom.
That's why experts are suggesting the Vatican take advantage of the renewal to push for something along those lines. It's similar to Mike Pompeo's message.
Javier Romero
Translation: CT
