Archbishop Paul Gallagher acknowledges imperfections in Vatican-China deal

Archbishop Paul Gallagher acknowledged the challenges of the agreement between the Holy See and China regarding the appointment of bishops during a meeting with journalists in Rome on October 27. He stated that the imperfections of the deal are evident and that the dialogue is not easy, but he affirmed a commitment to continue the process.

The 2018 agreement, which has been renewed in 2020, 2022, and 2024, remains confidential. Under the known terms, the pope retains final authority over episcopal appointments and may reject candidates proposed by Beijing, while the Holy See agrees not to appoint bishops without prior approval from the Chinese government. Gallagher noted that the current situation is an improvement over the period before the agreement because all bishops in China are now in communion with the pope.

During the same meeting, Gallagher addressed the health of Pope Leo XIV following surgery on October 13, describing the recovery as a significant event that highlights human mortality. He also stated that a papal visit to the United States is very likely in the near future, noting that American elections may influence the timing.