Pope Francis calls China 'promise' for Catholic Church

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE, undefined — The pope praised China on Friday, ahead of a possible renewal of a deal between Beijing and the Holy See on the appointment of bishops.

"I would like to visit China, which is a great country," Pope Francis told reporters during a press conference on his papal plane, as he returned to Rome from his 12-day tour of the Asia-Pacific.

"I admire China, I respect China, it is a country with a thousand-year-old culture, a capacity for dialogue and a capacity to understand each other that goes beyond the different democratic systems it has had," added the 87-year-old pope.

"I believe that China is a promise and a hope for the Church," Francis said, adding that he has been pleased with the Vatican's ongoing dialogue with China.

His comments came a few weeks before the expected renewal of an agreement between Beijing and the Vatican on the appointment of bishops.

The two parties agreed to the historic but secretive deal in 2018 that allows both sides a say in the appointment of Catholic bishops in the Communist country.

The accord, renewed in 2020 and 2022, is designed to bring together Catholics caught between the official state-backed church in China and an underground movement loyal to Rome.

It would give the pope the final say in the appointing bishops.