Cardinal Parolin has been the key architect of the Vatican-China accords. He has insisted that patience is needed to see the fruits of what he predicts will be a long process and has said he is relying on the “good faith” of the Chinese Communist Party. Speaking to journalists at a conference in Rome in May 2024, Parolin said regarding both parties’ stance towards the deal, “We are all interested in the agreement being renewed” in October 2024. The secret agreement was renewed in October 2024 and extended it for four years instead of the usual two.
