Pope defends China deal on bishops, says he will have final say on names

Pope Francis speaks with the media onboard a plane during his flight back from Tallinn after the final leg of his visit to the Baltic states, Estonia September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Max Rossi

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Tuesday defended a landmark deal between the Vatican and China on the appointment of bishops, saying he, and not the Beijing government, will have the final say on who is named.

In his first public comments on the deal signed in Beijing on Saturday, he told reporters on the plane returning from a trip to the Baltics that while he realises not everyone will understand the logic behind the agreement, he was confident in the "great faith" of Chinese Catholics.