Sino-Vatican Rapprochement: An Assessment of Pope Francis’ Realpolitik and the Provisional Agreement on the Appointment of Bishops

Abstract

ABSTRACT In September 2018, the Vatican and the People’s Republic of China reached a landmark provisional agreement, marking a new phase of relations between the two states since the severance of ties in 1951. What led to the signing of the agreement? What are its critical achievements and failures? This article argues that it was the realpolitik of Pope Francis, the first Jesuit Pope, that led the Vatican to make ‘a leap of faith’ and diverge from the two previous papacies. The most significant achievement of the agreement was arguably the establishment of a ‘China model’ in appointing bishops. However, this development has also stirred up confusion and sidestepped crucial issues such as the status of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association.