China's icy heart? Has the Catholic Church warmed up the Asian superpower?

Relations between the Vatican and China have been frosty since the communist takeover in the 1950s, and the Holy See has found it very difficult to warm relations with the Asian superpower. But with an unprecedented proposal from China, all that could very well change.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - China has proposed a joint system of appointing bishops with the Vatican.

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According to the state-run Global Times, the state-run Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA) said that it hopes to receive a response on the proposal by early 2015.

One of the largest barriers between friendly relations between China and the Holy See is the appointment of bishops.

One of the other large obstacles is the CCPA, which has been in control over the Church in China since the communist takeover and splits the loyalty of Chinese Catholics. Most of China's 12 million Catholics-at least publicly-support the government's Catholic group, but a large underground community of Catholics claim full loyalty to the Pope.

"The Vatican seems to hope for more agreements beyond bishop ordination, such as canceling the CCPA. But that doesn't appear likely," an anonymous Chinese official was quoted as saying by the Global Times.

In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI broke ground in negotiations with China when he called for greater co-operation between the two in a letter.

After it was published, China and the Vatican did seem to be on the verge of establishing a joint system for the appointment of bishops, and the names of new bishops were submitted to Rome prior to being appointed.

But in 2010, China ordained a bishop without papal approval and forced Chinese bishops that were loyal to Rome to attend the ceremony. This back-step in policy set relations backwards.

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