Pope's Approval of Shanghai Bishop Appointment Amidst Vatican-China Tensions

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Cardinal Secretary of State, discusses the appointment of Bishop Shen Bin in Shanghai and emphasizes the Catholic Church's commitment to dialogue with China. He highlights the importance of respecting the decisions made in agreement and expresses hope for the opening of a permanent Holy See liaison office in China. Cardinal Parolin also addresses pending issues related to other bishops and emphasizes the need for consensus in episcopal appointments to prevent disagreements. He identifies three urgent matters: the creation of an Episcopal Conference, regular communication between Chinese bishops and the Pope, and the need to overcome mistrust towards Catholicism in China. Finally, he calls for the full and correct application of the historic Agreement between the Holy See and China.