ECCLESIA IN ASIA Francis continues to bet on dialogue with China. Will Beijing do the same?

Reflections of Father Criveller, PIME missionary and sinologist: with the appointment of Shen Bin as Bishop of Shanghai, the Pope is concerned about the good of God’s people, and we with him. But in the interview with Card. Parolin clearly reveals the disappointment of the Holy See for the situation that has been created. And it is difficult to imagine that the Chinese authorities, who insist so much on a policy of nationalizing religions, would stop making unilateral decisions.

The Vatican Press Office announced yesterday that the Pope has appointed Joseph Shen Bin Bishop of Shanghai (China), transferring him from the diocese of Haimen (Jiangsu). At the same time, Secretary of State Pietro Parolin gave a rare interview “to the Vatican media.” The name of the agency or the interviewer does not appear and even the questions are numbered. In short, it is a full-blown statement, without being formal and official.

The first thing I would like to affirm is that, faced with an act of government by the Holy Father, we Catholics hope that his intentions, for which we pray every day, will come true. And his intention is the good of God’s people in China and Shanghai.

The Secretary of State, for his part, took care to clarify, as far as possible, the circumstances that led to this decision. Some observers imagined that sooner or later this point would be reached, that is, to endorse, albeit reluctantly, the decision of the Chinese authorities last April. By transferring Bishop Shen without any consultation, the Chinese authorities had saddened and hurt the Holy See not a little.

Not a few Catholics, in Hong Kong and elsewhere, see the papal decision as yet another capitulation to the abuses of Beijing’s religious policy. In fact, it is applied with scant respect for the letter and spirit of the 2018 Agreement, which has already been renewed twice.

The disappointment of the Holy See is clearly revealed between the lines in the interview with Card. Parolin. But he has not been able to explain it in all its seriousness, because by accepting the transfer of Shen Bin to Shanghai, the Pope wants, despite everything, not to be entangled by the difficulties and impropriety, and to continue betting on dialogue with China.

The appointment as cardinal, last Sunday, July 9, of the Bishop of Hong Kong Stephen Chow – which follows his inclusion, the only Chinese bishop, among the members of the Synod – demonstrates that the elected Cardinal Chow is an important mediating figure. And he has never pronounced drastically on the Shanghai issue, stating that he does not consider that the Agreement between China and the Holy See has failed.

The Card. Parolin even goes so far as to affirm that now it would be opportune to go one step further, namely the creation of a stable communication office between both parties. The Holy See continues to believe -despite everything- in dialogue, but is the interlocutor on the same wavelength? Can an office resolve what, on China’s part, appears to be a concrete strategic decision: to proceed unilaterally in a religious policy increasingly characterized by “sinicization” nationalism? We believe that it is not so much the lack of liaison instruments as the Chinese authorities’ lack of sincere desire for dialogue that makes everything so difficult. And it is difficult to imagine that the one in Shanghai will be the last one-sided episode, although this is dramatically desirable.

In any case, it is not just a matter of concern to safeguard the Agreement, the only formal communication channel, imperfect as it may be, between the Holy See and China. The Vatican is concerned above all about the terrible ecclesial situation in which the diocese of Shanghai finds itself.

The interview of Card. Parolin contains a single and sober reference to the person of Joseph Shen, the young bishop of Shanghai who is also President of the body called the “College of Chinese Catholic Bishops” (so says the statement of the Vatican Press Office). He speaks of Shen as a “dear pastor,” even though he apparently did not ask for permission or inform the Holy See about his transfer. Perhaps he later was able to communicate in some way with the Holy See and explain his decision.

Shanghai has been without a pastor for nearly 10 years. The last bishop, Aloysius Jin Luxian, died on April 27, 2013. Ten years is really too long, with two auxiliary bishops prevented by the authorities from exercising their ministry. Bishop Thaddeus Ma Daqin, still under house arrest at the Sheshan seminary, had even had his episcopal status abolished by the political authorities (as if that were canonically possible, of course!). It positively strikes me that Card. Parolin mentions with all his titles both barred bishops, including Joseph Xing Wenzhi, who was “retired into private life.” In fact, as we have repeatedly mentioned, his ecclesial and human history deserves to be clarified, and in any case Bishop Xing has the right to an honorable and free life.

The hope is that Bishop Shen Bin, now that he has papal recognition and (this is all too clear) the support of the political authorities, will be able to put ecclesial life in Shanghai back on track. Perhaps starting with his brother bishops, on whom the ax of political condemnation has fallen. It will also be important to see the reactions of Shanghai Catholics, including those who are not aligned with the government’s positions.

Founded in 1607 by Paul Xu Guangqi, Matteo Ricci’s best friend, collaborator and disciple, and himself one of the pillars of Chinese Catholicism, the Catholic community of Shanghai begins a difficult and uncertain new chapter of its journey. We accompany you with friendship and with the spirit of those who believe in the communion of saints.

* PIME missionary and sinologist

“ECCLESIA IN ASIA” IS THE ASIANNEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO THE CHURCH IN ASIA WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY SUNDAY IN YOUR EMAIL? SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER AT THIS LINK