China-Vatican Relations: Francis’s Dream and the Communist Authorities’ Reality

He very rightly points out: “It is not enough to read the press release in which the Holy See Press Office informed us that Cardinal Matteo Zuppi [Editor’s note: President of the Italian Episcopal Conference and member of the Community of Sant’Egidio] had a telephone conversation with Li Hui, the Chinese government’s special representative for Euro-Asian Affairs.

“It is also necessary to read the press release from the Chinese side, which arrived on August 14, one day before the press release from the Holy See. The details and differences in the press releases say much more than the official words.”

He continues: “the press release from the Holy See Press Office on August 15 [...] explains that the conversation between Cardinal Zuppi and Li occurred ‘within the scope of the mission entrusted to the cardinal by Pope Francis for peace in Ukraine and following the meeting in Beijing last September.’

“The press release emphasizes how, ‘[D]uring the telephone call, great concern was expressed for the situation and the need to foster dialogue between the Parties, with adequate international guarantees for a just and lasting peace.’

“The Vatican press release limited itself to discussing the situation in Ukraine. Beijing’s tone was different. To hear the Chinese tell it, Zuppi was the one who requested the call. This is no small matter. Beijing said, ‘Li Hui appreciated the Vatican’s constant efforts to mediate the Ukraine crisis and provide humanitarian assistance,’ adding, ‘[Li] stressed that the current situation shows the significance of the six common understandings issued by China and Brazil.’

“The Chinese statement also said, ‘Matteo Zuppi, on behalf of Pope Francis, thanked the Chinese government for its unswerving efforts in promoting peace and expressed his appreciation on the positive role of the six common understandings in the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.’ Finally, ‘the two sides also exchanged views on the current situation of the Ukraine crisis, the process of peace talks, and other [matters].’”

Roman Dream and Chinese Realpolitik

According to Andrea Gagliarducci, the Chinese communiqué shows that “Beijing is, therefore, keen to use the phone call [requested by Zuppi] as an international recognition by the Holy See. This is precisely at a time when religious freedom and freedom of expression in Beijing seem to be becoming crucial issues, possibly also touched upon in the election campaign for the US presidency.”

But, the Italian Vaticanist reminds us, the bottom line is that: “The Pope dreams of going to China. The Pope is making his moves towards China to show sympathy. When he “healed” the unilateral nomination of Bishop Shen Bin as bishop of Shanghai, he nominated him in turn, thus avoiding having an excommunicated bishop at the head of an important Chinese diocese.

“China senses this opening of credit on the part of the Pope and perhaps wants to force the hand towards full diplomatic relations. This would overshadow religious freedom problems – which the Holy See always highlights in confidential dialogues – but it could also force the Holy See to break off relations with Taiwan. Removing Taiwan from its only remaining Western ally could be the basis of China’s strategy with the Holy See.”

Andrea Gagliarducci notes that “There have been no readings of the Chinese statement, not even in some comments in the Vatican media, as could balance the points of view and provide other perspectives. There is a lack of alternative communication in China within the Holy See because the will of the Pope somewhat flattens everything.

“One could argue that it has always been this way, but with Pope Francis, the Vatican media have somehow focused their strategy a lot on the Pope and the interests of the Pope. For now, it is only a telephone conversation.

“However, the fact that the Secretariat of State was not involved, that China considers Zuppi an interlocutor, and that Zuppi requested a phone call suggests that the Pope is trying to force the hand on dialogue with China.

“In short, more than Russia, Pope Francis would like to go to China for the next Jubilee. This justifies a leap forward in granting credit for dialogue. But the real question is: What cost is the Pope willing to make the Church pay for a trip to China? And what will be the personal cost of the Pope for pursuing the Chinese dream?”

Training a Communist “Patriotic” Clergy

Right now, the price to pay is what Wu Xiuying [Editor's note: “a pseudonym for security reasons,” according to Bitter Winter] reveals in August 23’s Bitter Winter article: “China, Catholic Clergy Starts Receiving ‘Patriotic Education.’”

The author recalls: “China’s Patriotic Education Law is in force since January 1, 2024. On January 4, 2004, the 25th meeting of the National Joint Conference of Religious Groups issued guidelines on how the Patriotic Education Law should be implemented by religious communities.

“The law was hailed as the main tool of CCP domestic propaganda for years to come. The guidelines aimed at making state-controlled religions into mouthpieces of the Party propaganda, even more than before.”

He goes on to demonstrate the forced submission of the Chinese clergy: “Church bureaucrats [...] know they cannot escape the new policy of ‘strict governance of religion,’ which is based on the idea that pro-government religious hierarchs alone are not able to control religious communities and a direct supervision by the CCP and the United Front [Editor’s note: an organization that is subservient to the CCP] is needed.

“One example of what is happening in several provinces was the Patriotic Education Training Course for Catholic Representatives in Jiangxi, hosted by the Jiangxi Provincial Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau this month of August 2024 at the Jiangxi Fuzhou Socialist College in Fuzhou, Jiangxi province (not to be confused with Fuzhou, Fujian province).”

Here is the program for these reeducation sessions: “The program featured lectures and hands-on learning, with expert-led courses on topics like Xi Jinping’ thought, the hundredth anniversary of the CCP, and how Catholics can uphold the Party and its Central Committee, focusing on the recent Third Plenum. Cautiously, the theme of ‘strict governance’ [1] was also introduced.

“Interestingly, one of the field trips of the course brought the priests and lay workers to the Red Army Slogan Museum in Hufang, Le’an County. The area is rich in surviving slogans of the Red Army dating back to the Civil War time, which are being collected and moved to the museum. It was, as the organizers said, a unique opportunity for the Catholic priests and lay workers to ‘inherit the red gene’ as loyal followers of the Communist Party.”

Such is the reality! And the agreements between the Vatican and China on the appointment of bishops continue to be regularly renewed. Their content still remains secret. Nobody in the Vatican dares disturb Francis' Chinese dream, but the facts are there.

[1] The Decoding China website explains “strict governance” or “good governance,” which is highly prized by Xi Jinping. “This narrow interpretation is in line with the political-ideological discourse of the CCP that emphasises absolute Party leadership, which was further encoded in the Chinese Constitution in 2018. The primary goal is to ensure that the CCP fulfils its role in governing the country well. Public order, social stability – i.e., the absence of protests – and provision of economic growth are seen as key benchmarks of success. The strong emphasis on the higher common goods of public order and security means that even laws that heavily restrict civil liberties are seen as important pillars of good governance.”