Vatican, China Renew Accord on Bishops Despite U.S. Pressure
- Deal on bishop appointments extended for two years, China says
- U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo urged Vatican not to renew deal
St. Peter's Basilica colonnade in Vatican City.
Photographer: Giulio Napolitano/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Sign up for Next China, a weekly email on where the nation stands now and where it's going next.
The Vatican renewed an agreement with China, brushing aside pressure from the U.S. government which has denounced attacks on religious freedom in the Asian country.
Beijing and the papal state, which are slowly moving toward restoring diplomatic relations after almost 70 years, agreed to extend the 2018 accord on the appointment of bishops in China for another two years, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a daily briefing on Thursday.