Book Review:Antonio Spadaro S.J. (ed.), 2019.

La Chiesa in Cina:Un futuro da scrivere (Crocevia) (Italian Edition). Milano: Ancora Editrice.

Abstract

ABSTRACTLa Chiesa in Cina features six essays by Jesuits involved in the company’s mission in and for China, plus official texts of the agreement between the Vatican and the government of the People’s Republic of China regarding the appointment of Catholic bishops in China, and Pope Francis’ message to Chinese Catholics and the Universal Church explaining the agreement (22 September 2018). It also contains a Preface by the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Antonio Spadaro’s editorial introduction. Given the expertise of the Jesuit contributors—Spadaro is editor of La Civiltà Cattolica, the prestigious and historic Jesuit review in Rome—and the official statements presented in this volume, it stands as the essential point of departure for any realistic analysis of what the Catholic Church hopes to accomplish with this agreement. The book is written in Italian, so one may hope that a Chinese and/or English translation of it may soon become available.