Human Rights Watch (HRW) has expressed its concerns regarding the recently extended Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China, urging that it should prioritize the facilitation of human rights and the release of “forcibly disappeared Catholic bishops” in China. This agreement, initially established in 2018, has been renewed for the third time and is now set to continue for four more years starting October 22, 2024. For more details, HRW outlines its position on the agreement here.
Maya Wang, HRW’s associate director for China, has urged the Vatican to make the release of its bishops a top priority when dealing with the Chinese government. Wang emphasized the importance of Pope Francis’s leadership in advocating for religious freedom in China, noting the escalating persecution of religious groups by Chinese authorities.
The situation of missing Catholic bishops in China has been highlighted by the Hudson Institute, which reports that at least ten Vatican-approved bishops are currently in indefinite detention under various circumstances, including Baoding’s Bishop James Su Zhimin, who has been in secret detention for 27 years following a religious procession.
There are concerns that the Chinese government has previously violated the agreement by appointing bishops unilaterally and exerting pressure on the Catholic population to participate in official churches governed by the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association. Those who refuse and attend ‘underground house churches’ face persecution. The HRW describes these actions as part of China’s broader policy of Sinicization, an initiative aimed at aligning religious practices with traditional Chinese culture and ideology.
Additionally, similar instances of suppression have been observed in other religious communities, notably among Uyghur Muslims, leading to accusations of genocide and further intensifying human rights concerns in the region. Such criticisms have been repeatedly voiced by the international community, as seen here and here.
The Vatican’s engagement with China on these issues remains crucial, as the balance between diplomatic dialogues and advocacy for human rights continues to pose a significant challenge.