New Regulation on Religion in China Threatens 2020 Deal with VaticanFebruary 25, 2021 — 02/25/2021 China (International Christian Concern) – Newly-released regulations from the Chinese government indicate that, just weeks after finalizing a deal with the Vatican on the appointment of bishops in China, the Chinese...
One Vatican, Two Models for Vietnam and ChinaSeptember 2, 2019 — 09/02/2019 Vietnam (International Christian Concern) – The Church continues to grow despite religious persecution in Vietnam. A recent example can attest to this fact – On August 15, the solemnity...
The Vatican Secretary of State Became First Interviewee of China’s State MediaMay 13, 2019 — 05/13/2019 China (International Christian Concern) – Against a backdrop of thawed Sino-Vatican relations, the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, was interview by Global Times, a Beijing newspaper linked...
Chinese Underground Bishop Skips Retirement Mass to Protest Sino-Vatican ArrangementJanuary 25, 2019 — 01/25/2019 China (International Christian Concern) – After the Vatican signed a provisional deal with China on the appointment of bishops last September, Bishop Zhuang Jianjian in Shantou was asked by...
Chinese Bishops’ Chief Will Work Hard on “Sinicization” of ReligionJanuary 23, 2019 — 01/23/2019 China (International Christian Concern) – Wang Zuoan, deputy minister of the United Front Work Department (UFWD), recently visited the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA) and the Bishops' Conference of...
Vietnam Invites Vatican Secretary of State to Visit the CountryDecember 28, 2018 — 12/28/2018 Vietnam (International Christian Concern) – In a message sent to Pope Francis and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, on the occasion of Christmas holidays,...
Vatican and Vietnam Agree to Upgrade RelationsDecember 22, 2018 — 12/22/2018 Vietnam (International Christian Concern) – After a Vatican delegation led by Monsignor Antoine Camilleri visited Vietnam from Dec 18-20, Vatican and Vietnamese officials have agreed to upgrade relations through...
Pope Asks Chinese Underground Bishop to Step Down to Make Way for Excommunicated BishopDecember 16, 2018 — 12/16/2018 China (International Christian Concern) – Three months after the Vatican has signed a provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops with China, bishop Vincent Guo Xijin was asked to...
North Korea Invites Pope Francis to VisitOctober 9, 2018 — 10/08/2018 North Korea (International Christian Concern) – North Korea has officially invited Pope Francis to visit the country. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is extending the invitation through the South...
Chinese Catholics Feeling Left Out in Sino-Vatican DealSeptember 22, 2018 — ICC Note: As the Holy See and China are expected to sign a deal over appointment of bishops, many Chinese Catholics feel like their voices have not been heard – they...
China’s Tough Religious Policy Could Be Roadblock for Sino-Vatican DealJune 26, 2018 — ICC Note: A scholar in Taiwan comments that China’s tough religious policy that came into effect last February could impede the deal over bishop appointments between the Holy See and...
Sino-Vatican Talks Resume, Pope Says Dialogue Worth the RiskJune 24, 2018 — ICC Note: In an exclusive interview with Reuters, Pope Francis says that talks between China and the Holy See over bishop appointments have resumed in mid-June. Despite opposition from the...
Taiwan Archbishop Asks Pope Not to Sacrifice Taiwan Over Vatican-China DealMay 22, 2018 — ICC Note: Archbishop John Hung Shan-chuan and his Taiwanese delegation visited the Pope on May 14. In the meeting, he asked Pope Francis to protect Taiwan from being sacrificed as part...
Taiwan Bishops Invite Pope to Visit TaiwanMay 16, 2018 — ICC Note: Seven Taiwanese bishops visited Rome to meet and invite the Pope to make a historic visit to Taiwan next year, a move that would irritate China. There has been...
Vatican-China Deal Won’t Be Inked Until JuneApril 4, 2018 — ICC Note: Despite multiple sources claiming that a Sino-Vatican deal would be reached around Easter, Catholic news agency UCA reports that for the two sides to agree on the terms...
Bishop Selection by Government Does Not Breach Religious Freedom, Says ChinaApril 3, 2018 — ICC Note: Former vice administrator for the State Administration for Religious Affairs in China says limiting the Vatican’s control over bishop appointment does not infringe on believers’ religious freedom. Beijing would...
