Question 298 – Since 1864, popes opposed communism. Does Pope Francis’s stance imply Church acceptance?

Transcript:

No, this is not to say that the Church accepts communism, but rather that it is part of the so-called Ostpolitik of the Vatican, which began with Pope John XXIII. Even under John XXIII, the Holy See was making some compromises with the communist East Bloc countries, including in appointing bishops. These compromises and appointments were not always ideal. One notable example is the case of Cardinal Mindszenty, the Archbishop of Hungary, who was effectively removed from his position as primate by Pope Paul VI. This was scandalous, as it involved removing a martyr and confessor bishop at the request of the Communist Party of Hungary. Pope Paul VI yielded to the communists’ demands, and in his place, a bishop who was seen as a collaborator with the Communist Party was appointed. This is one of the most well-known cases, but other appointments were not as publicized, which later revealed themselves to be problematic after the fall of communism in the Eastern Bloc. Some of these were made in collaboration with the communist regimes.

This approach, the so-called Ostpolitik, has continued, and Pope Francis has continued it, particularly concerning the Communist Party in China. In my view, this is not prudent, and it is incorrect because there are conditions within the Chinese communist government that Catholics cannot accept. Specifically, the Chinese Catholic Church must be autonomous, but this contradicts Catholic teaching. A local Church cannot be autonomous and also subjected to the Communist Party. Such compromises were not part of the Ostpolitik under previous popes, but they are now part of the current policy with China under Pope Francis. This policy is regrettable, but it does not mean that the Vatican formally accepts communism. It is, rather, a practical compromise, which I believe is regrettable.