Pope gives green light for extension of accord with Beijing

FILE PHOTO: Women take part in a square dance routine in front of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Beijing, China April 12, 2020. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis has signed off on a two-year extension of a deal with China on the appointment of bishops that critics have condemned as a sell-out to the communist government, a senior Vatican source said on Monday.

The two-year provisional deal, which gives the pope the final say on the appointment of bishops, took effect on Oct. 22, 2018 and, if the Chinese side agrees - seen as virtually a given - will be extended without any changes, the source said.