The Vatican has renewed a secret agreement on the appointment of Catholic bishops in China.
It has extended the accord for another two years.
The deal aims to ease a long standing divide between the underground church loyal to the Pope and a state-backed official church.
For the first time since the 1950s both sides recognised the Pope as supreme leader of the Catholic Church.
Critics including Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen have denounced the deal as a sell-out to the Chinese Communist Party.
The cardinal is currently on trial over the use of a charity fund for pro-democracy protesters.
Pope Francis has been accused of not doing enough to defend him in public.
The Vatican-China agreement centres on cooperation over the appointment of bishops giving the Pope the final and decisive say.
Premier Christian News notes only six new bishops have been appointed since the deal was struck which its opponents say proves it is not producing the desired effects.
They also point to increasing restrictions on religious freedoms in China for Christians and other minorities.
China rejected a recent approach by the Vatican for a meeting between the Pope and President Xi Jinping.
