The Holy Father who emerges from the upcoming papal enclave following Pope Francis’ death will inherit a deal between the Vatican and China which ceded to the Chinese Communist Party control over appointing bishops amidst the CCP’s persecution of Catholics and other religious minorities.
Although no one actually knows what will happen when the next pope is selected at the Sistine Chapel starting this month, Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin — a close ally of Francis, the Vatican’s secretary of state, and the architect of the controversial deal with China — is considered among the top frontrunners by many Vatican watchers. But even if Parolin is not the next pope, the successor to Francis will have to decide what to do with the deal as the Chinese Communist Party continues to strengthen its grip over Catholics in China.
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