Vatican-China Deal of 2018

An agreement signed on September 22, 2018, whose text is kept secret, under which the Vatican and the CCP agree to cooperate in the selection of bishops (who will be ultimately and formally appointed by the Pope) of a united Catholic Church in China. In the Vatican’s interpretation, it should lead to the gradual merger of the Underground Catholic Church into the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, although the Vatican Guidelines of 2019 allows Catholic conscientious objectors to remain outside of the Patriotic Association for reasons of conscience.