'Vatican, Beijing May Sign Bishop Deal This Week'

A historic agreement between the Vatican and Beijing on the appointment of bishops in China could be signed as early as this Saturday, a communist government-approved mainland bishop said in a report published on Thursday.

Negotiations have reached "the final stages", Bishop Guo Jincai, secretary-general of the Bishops Conference of the Catholic Church in China, was quoted as saying by the state-owned Global Times newspaper.

"If everything goes right, the deal could be signed as early as the end of this month," said Guo.

Beijing and the Vatican severed diplomatic relations in 1951 and although ties have improved as China's Catholic population grows, they have remained at odds over the appointment of bishops.

China's roughly 12 million Catholics are divided between a government-run association, whose clergy are chosen by the Communist Party, and an unofficial underground church loyal to the Vatican.

The situation is complex because the Vatican has previously accepted several bishops appointed by Beijing, officially an atheist regime.

But opponents – among them the respected Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen – say the agreement risks abandoning loyal believers and amounts to a deal with the devil. (AFP)