Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s secretary for relations with states and international organizations, acknowledged the challenges of the Vatican-China deal on Tuesday.
Speaking at an event with journalists in Rome, the British diplomat responded to questions regarding the agreement, Pope Leo XIV’s health, and calls for a ceasefire in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war.
The full text of the 2018 agreement between China and the Holy See has never been made public. Under the publicly understood terms of the agreement, the pope retains final authority over episcopal appointments in China and may reject candidates proposed by Beijing. The Holy See, for its part, agreed not to appoint bishops without the Chinese government’s prior approval.
As reported by Reuters, Gallagher said that, regarding the agreement, its imperfections were visible.
“Itʼs not easy, the dialogue is not easy,” Gallagher said. “The imperfections of the agreement are evident, but there is a commitment to persevere in dialogue … and that is what will continue to happen.”
He also answered questions regarding a potential visit from Leo to the U.S., saying that it could happen “in the not too distant future.”
Regarding the pope’s Oct. 13 surgery and subsequent recovery, Gallagher described it as a “bit of a game changer” and a revelation of the pope’s mortality, as with every human being.
“[The pope] is a poor mortal like the rest of us,” Gallagher said.
In August, Gallagher traveled to Russia to discuss the country’s ongoing war with Ukraine with senior officials. He told journalists that he did not believe the Vatican was involved in discussions of the ceasefire between the two nations.
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