An Italian Catholic magazine article headlined Beijing wants Bishops appointed by the Pope betrays an “an “optimism not justified by facts,” says Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun of Hong Kong.

The 78-year-old retired bishop was commenting on the article published in the May issue of 30 Giorni (30 Days).

The writer had said that the recent ordinations of new Chinese bishops, all of whom were approved by the Chinese government and the Vatican, “can be read as a test of a possible pro tempore [for the time being] framework agreement” between both parties.

The writer Gianni Valente wrote his analysis after a series of bishops’ ordinations since April 18 and the public installation of Bishop Mattias Du Jiang of Bameng, who was previously not recognized by the government, in early April.

Their principal consecrators were all Vatican-approved bishops though in a few cases illicitly bishops participated in the ordinations.

Citing Chinese academics, Valente said a “simple scheme” with regard to bishops’ nominations could exclude the possibility of further illicit ordinations in China.

In response, Cardinal Zen says he disagrees with Valente’s view that the Chinese government has changed its position with regard to the Catholic Church. The prelate says that the acceptance of papally-approved bishops is “pragmatically motivated” as Catholics would otherwise not accept them.

Cardinal Zen’s full comments, Does Beijing really want Bishops appointed by the Pope? can be read here.

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