Cardinal Tagle defends the agreement with China on the appointment of bishops, saying its purpose is “to safeguard the valid apostolic succession and the sacramental nature of the Catholic Church in China,” and “this can reassure, comfort, and enliven baptized Catholics in China.” Responding to critics of the accords, Cardinal Tagle says that having some negative reactions toward the agreement is “part of the process” and “one always has to dirty one’s hands with the reality of things as they are.”
