After the renewal last October, the CCP violated the agreement twice. In November, Bishop John Peng Weizhao was named auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Jiangxi, which the CCP considers a diocese but which is not recognized as such by Rome. The Holy See was not notified in that case.

Then, in April this year, the CCP transferred Bishop Shen Bin from the Diocese of Haimen to Shanghai, also without the Vatican’s prior knowledge or approval.

The flouting of the secret accord, and the deteriorating status of religious liberty in China, has led senior Vatican diplomats to frankly concede that the agreement is “not the best deal possible” and that, “in the context of Chinese domestic politics … [the Holy See] can only achieve so much.”

Regarding Shanghai, after keeping quiet since April, Pope Francis decided to stand down on Shanghai and accept the bishop chosen by the Communist Party for China’s premier diocese. The decision was taken carefully over months, as it is a massive humiliation for the Holy See and the utter failure of the centerpiece of the Holy Father’s China policy.