Beijing, April 22 (Reuters) – China’s Foreign Ministry expressed its condolences over the passing of Pope Francis on Tuesday, highlighting ongoing cooperation with the Vatican but declining to confirm whether Chinese officials would attend the upcoming funeral scheduled for Saturday.
Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, speaking at a regular press briefing in Beijing, said, “We extend our condolences on the death of Pope Francis,” while noting there was “no information” at this time regarding China’s potential representation at the Vatican funeral ceremony.
Progress in China-Vatican Relations
Guo emphasized that China and the Vatican have “maintained constructive contact and carried out beneficial exchanges” in recent years, citing the renewal of a key agreement on bishop appointments as a sign of improving ties.
The two sides extended their landmark 2018 provisional agreement in October last year for another four years. The pact enables mutual consultation on the appointment of Catholic bishops in China, addressing a long-standing rift between the Vatican and China’s state-backed Catholic Patriotic Association.
Guo stated that the agreement had been “implemented smoothly” since its inception. The deal, although criticized by conservative factions within the Catholic Church for allegedly ceding too much control to China’s Communist Party, is seen by the Vatican as a step toward unity among China’s Catholic communities.
Pope Francis’ Legacy in China-Vatican Relations
Pope Francis played a pivotal role in opening channels with Beijing and pushing for improved dialogue, despite heavy criticism from conservative Catholic circles. His support for the bishop appointment agreement, while controversial, marked a significant milestone in the Vatican’s attempt to integrate Chinese Catholics into the global church structure.
Religious Diplomacy Amid Taiwan Tensions
Despite progress in China-Vatican relations, diplomatic tensions remain due to the Vatican’s formal ties with Taiwan—a democratically governed island that Beijing claims as its own. The Vatican remains the only European state with official diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
While China has expressed a desire to normalize relations with the Vatican, the Taiwan issue remains a significant sticking point. On the same day, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei said in Taipei that the government would continue to push for “senior government” participation at Pope Francis’ funeral, highlighting the “profound” friendship between Taiwan and the Holy See.
Previous high-level engagements include Taiwanese presidents attending papal events, such as Francis’ inaugural mass in 2013. However, Beijing’s stance on Taiwan could influence the nature of its engagement with the Vatican during the funeral and beyond.
Catholic Community in China
The Vatican estimates that approximately 5 million Catholics live in China, out of a population of 1.4 billion. While the Catholic Church operates under state supervision through the Patriotic Association, a significant portion of Chinese Catholics have historically remained loyal to the underground church affiliated directly with the Vatican.
The 2018 agreement aimed to bridge this divide, though it remains largely unpublished and the specifics of its mechanisms undisclosed. The Vatican defends the deal as a necessary compromise for the long-term benefit of Chinese Catholics, despite criticism over lack of transparency.
Funeral Attendance Still Unclear
When asked about Chinese representation at the funeral of Pope Francis, Guo Jiakun reiterated that there was “no information to provide” at this time. Attendance by any high-ranking official would be symbolically significant in light of the recent thaw in China-Vatican ties.
As the world prepares to bid farewell to Pope Francis, observers are watching closely to see how both Beijing and Taipei position themselves diplomatically—especially in relation to a Vatican that stands at a delicate intersection of religion and global politics.
Category: World News, Religion & Faith, China-Vatican Relations, Geopolitics
Tags: Pope Francis, China Vatican Agreement, Catholic Church China, Bishop Appointment Deal, Taiwan and Vatican, Religious Diplomacy, China Foreign Ministry, Papal Funeral, Vatican News, China Religion Policy
