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Beijing lashes back
Moves signal rejection of Pope’s offer
Following the November disappearance of a diocesan bishop and his auxiliary as well as the arrest of twelve Chinese priests in Feng Xiang, in the area of Shaanxi, the Vatican has expressed regret but no surprise—indicating that the Vatican was prepared for new crackdowns on the underground Church, as Beijing responded to a papal offer for negotiations leading to diplomatic relations.

The Italian Catholic newspaper Avvenire reported that Vatican official sources, speaking under condition of anonymity, saw the Chinese government’s latest actions as part of “a strategy to spurn the extended hand of John Paul II.” The Pope had addressed a message to China on October 24, in which he earnestly asked for China to resume a dialogue to establish diplomatic relations with the Holy See. These relations would be “an advantage for all humanity” in this moment of deep concern within the international community, he had said.

“When we decided to send this message, we already knew that we should not expect a positive answer right away,” said one Vatican source, noting the upcoming elections within the Communist Party, scheduled for next spring. “We hope, however, that after that the dialogue will be able to begin again.”

Avvenire also said that an August 1999 “secret protocol” from the Chinese government ordered “the resumption of repression aimed against clandestine Catholics.” The release of that document coincided with the Vatican announcement of the canonization of the 120 Chinese martyrs, which took place on October 1, 2000. The date chosen for the canonization ceremonies coincided with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Chinese Communist government—a fact that Beijing saw as a deliberate affront. The Vatican said that no “political or diplomatic consideration” had entered into the choice of this date, but rather that it was the first Sunday during the month of the Jubilee year that had been dedicated to celebrating missionary work.

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