The Vatican authorities have denied the US secretary of State an audience with Pope Francis on Wednesday. The Holy See said in a statement that it does not receive politicians amid the election season.
Besides, the decision adds a lot to the diplomatic tensions after comments by Mike Pompeo on the Catholic church and China. Moreover, the Vatican accused Pompeo of using his comments and the issue to attract the voters in the upcoming Presidential election.
Earlier this month, in an article, the US Secretary of State said that the Vatican was risking its moral authority by renewing its agreement regarding new bishops’ appointments.
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However, the incumbent US President Donald Trump enjoys backing from the American conservative religious movements, including the conservator Catholics who accuse the Pope of being too liberal. Despite this, Pope Francis made a deal in 2018 with China to have a say in the appointment of bishops.
At that time, the Pope had said that he hoped that the agreement would lead the Catholic unity in China. Furthermore, next month, the agreement is expected to be renewed even though conservative Catholics have opposed it, including the US.
In Rome, while speaking to an audience in Rome, Mike Pompeo said that the Catholic Church must protect the religious minorities in China, arguing that nowhere in the world religious freedom is under threat except under the Communist Party’s regime in China.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Archbishop Paul Gallagher and Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s two top diplomats, said that Pope would not receive the American Secretary of State. AP reported that the diplomats stated that Pope Francis does not receive political figures during the election season.
Not only that, but Archbishop Gallagher highlighted that the issues for discussion should be decided privately. Furthermore, the two diplomats called Pompeo’s criticism as a surprise. Cardinal Parolin also stated that it possible that the Secretary of State’s remarks were designed to garner Catholic support in the upcoming election. He further noted that the Vatican’s agreement with Beijing has nothing to do with the American authorities.
