Collisions with Catholicism

Pope Francis - the new leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics – takes the Throne of St. Peter at yet another low point in the long fraught, but ever fascinating, Sino-Vatican relationship.

In recent months, the PRC and the Vatican (which do not have diplomatic relations) have been at odds over who has the right to consecrate bishops in China. Simmering differences boiled over last July when the Vatican and the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CPCA), which governs China's Catholics, agreed on a candidate for auxiliary (or, in CPCA phrasing, "coadjutor") bishop of Shanghai, a priest named Thaddeus Ma Daqin. However, during his July 7 ordination at Xujiahui Cathedral, Ma publicly announced his withdrawal from the official association. The CPCA immediately removed Ma from his post and later stripped him of his title. He has reportedly been confined to Sheshan Seminary ever since, a situation that has left many Chinese Catholics distraught.