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For the Vatican, China is a kind of growing market, for the United States its archrival. That leads to diplomatic resentment.
When a US Secretary of State drives to the Vatican, all the doors are usually open. Also those of the Pope. But this Thursday it was closed. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had to settle for Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin.
The reason for the cold papal shoulder is China. Two years ago, China and the Vatican agreed to a so-called “interim agreement.” In this text, which is not fully known, both states regulated the appointment of Catholic bishops in China. With this agreement a long-standing dispute was defused.
Since then, the bishops in China have received the blessing of the Catholic Church and the blessing of the Communist Party.
Big plans in a great empire
Exactly this agreement is a thorn in the side of the US administration under Donald Trump. Under Trump, the relationship between the United States and China is deteriorating, the tones are strident, and the United States government demands the loyalty of its allies, including the Vatican.
The moral authority of the Vatican is in danger, said US Secretary of State Pompeo a few days ago in Washington. The Vatican should not renew the agreement. But, as heard from the Vatican, the Pope apparently doesn’t believe it. Because the stakes are high in China: a population of billions in which the Roman Catholic Church has barely been able to establish itself. So a lot of potential.
Reluctance to Beijing
But what is the price the Vatican is willing to pay for it? Observers in Rome say the deal so far has not paid off. In China there is still no freedom of religion. Agreeing on which bishops are acceptable to both parties is tedious. And the number of believers does not grow any more.
The Catholic Church sees almost inexhaustible potential for believers in China. However, so far, expansion to the Far East has stalled.
Keystone
Furthermore, critics complain, the Pope is notably reluctant to criticize Beijing, just so as not to jeopardize the deal. So far, Francis has accepted the suppression of the democracy movement in Hong Kong without comment.
Indeed, the Vatican’s relationship with China raises questions. Questions that could have been discussed between the Pope and a US Secretary of State. But the relationship between Pope Francis and the Trump administration remains cold.
Unwanted moral sermon
In the electoral campaign four years ago, the Pope had already criticized candidate Trump for his plans to build the wall in Mexico. When Trump visited the Vatican three years ago, he smiled for a long time at the cameras, but Francis only tormented him briefly and visibly.
And the fact that the Secretary of State of the United States now wanted to teach the Pope a lesson in matters of moral authority fell very badly in the Vatican.
