Pope gives green light for extension of accord with Beijing

VATICAN CITY--Pope Francis has signed off on a two-year extension of a deal with China on the appointment of bishops that critics have condemned as a sell-out to the communist government, a senior Vatican source said on Monday. The two-year provisional deal, which gives the pope the final say on the appointment of bishops, took effect on Oct. 22, 2018 and, if the Chinese side agrees--seen as virtually a given--will be extended without any changes, the source said. “We think it is prudent to extend it for another two years,” the...