The “Remaining at the Post” Principle for Catholic Clergy during China’s Political Transition: An Archival Reassessment
This study examines how the Roman Catholic Church formulated and implemented its principal directive during China’s civil war and subsequent regime change in the mid-twentieth century, particularly the obligation that clergy remain at their posts alongside the relocation of seminarians to safer area...
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| Published in: | Church History |
|---|---|
| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Articles |
| Language: | en |
| Published: |
2026/07/08
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/church-history/article/remaining-at-the-post-principle-for-catholic-clergy-during-chinas-political-transition-an-archival-reassessment/B242E5A491FA899B586168AAC224A7B7 |
| _version_ | 1880822392634212352 |
|---|---|
| author | Wong, Bibiana Yee-ying |
| author_autocomplete | Wong, Bibiana Yee-ying |
| author_browse | Wong, Bibiana Yee-ying |
| author_facet | Wong, Bibiana Yee-ying Wong, Bibiana Yee-ying |
| author_sort | Wong, Bibiana Yee-ying |
| building | Cambridge University Press |
| container_title | Church History |
| container_title_str | Church History |
| description | This study examines how the Roman Catholic Church formulated and implemented its principal directive during China’s civil war and subsequent regime change in the mid-twentieth century, particularly the obligation that clergy remain at their posts alongside the relocation of seminarians to safer areas. Drawing on newly available Vatican archival materials, it demonstrates that the decision to evacuate seminarians was not solely prompted by the petition of the first Chinese cardinal to the pope, as previously assumed; rather, the Apostolic Internuncio’s shift in position played a decisive role. It further identifies an original Italian version of the directive that differs in sequence and emphasis from the widely circulated Chinese text. Against this background, criticisms of the Internuncio as “the executioner of native priests” require reconsideration. Rather, the study reinterprets him as an adaptive intermediary within the process of policy formation and implementation. |
| doi_str_mv | 10.1017/S0009640726103576 |
| first_indexed | 2026-11-03T07:42:52Z |
| format | Articles |
| genre | Articles |
| genre_facet | Articles |
| id | zotero-YXIE5WTA |
| institution | zotero_group |
| issn | 0009-6407, 1755-2613 |
| language | en |
| last_indexed | 2026-11-03T07:42:52Z |
| latest_content_date | 2026-11-03T07:42:52Z |
| libraryCatalog | Cambridge University Press |
| physical | 1-18 |
| publishDate | 2026/07/08 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| record_format | zotero |
| spelling | The “Remaining at the Post” Principle for Catholic Clergy during China’s Political Transition: An Archival Reassessment This study examines how the Roman Catholic Church formulated and implemented its principal directive during China’s civil war and subsequent regime change in the mid-twentieth century, particularly the obligation that clergy remain at their posts alongside the relocation of seminarians to safer areas. Drawing on newly available Vatican archival materials, it demonstrates that the decision to evacuate seminarians was not solely prompted by the petition of the first Chinese cardinal to the pope, as previously assumed; rather, the Apostolic Internuncio’s shift in position played a decisive role. It further identifies an original Italian version of the directive that differs in sequence and emphasis from the widely circulated Chinese text. Against this background, criticisms of the Internuncio as “the executioner of native priests” require reconsideration. Rather, the study reinterprets him as an adaptive intermediary within the process of policy formation and implementation. Church History Articles Cambridge University Press 2026/07/08 Antonio Riberi Chinese Catholic Church Christianity and communism in China Sino-Vatican relations ecclesiastical governance Cambridge University Press Cambridge University Press Wong, Bibiana Yee-ying |
| spellingShingle | The “Remaining at the Post” Principle for Catholic Clergy during China’s Political Transition: An Archival Reassessment Wong, Bibiana Yee-ying Antonio Riberi Chinese Catholic Church Christianity and communism in China Sino-Vatican relations ecclesiastical governance Cambridge University Press Cambridge University Press |
| title | The “Remaining at the Post” Principle for Catholic Clergy during China’s Political Transition: An Archival Reassessment |
| title_autocomplete | The “Remaining at the Post” Principle for Catholic Clergy during China’s Political Transition: An Archival Reassessment |
| title_full | The “Remaining at the Post” Principle for Catholic Clergy during China’s Political Transition: An Archival Reassessment |
| title_fullStr | The “Remaining at the Post” Principle for Catholic Clergy during China’s Political Transition: An Archival Reassessment |
| title_full_unstemmed | The “Remaining at the Post” Principle for Catholic Clergy during China’s Political Transition: An Archival Reassessment |
| title_short | The “Remaining at the Post” Principle for Catholic Clergy during China’s Political Transition: An Archival Reassessment |
| title_sort | the “remaining at the post” principle for catholic clergy during china’s political transition: an archival reassessment |
| topic | Antonio Riberi Chinese Catholic Church Christianity and communism in China Sino-Vatican relations ecclesiastical governance Cambridge University Press Cambridge University Press |
| topic_autocomplete | Antonio Riberi Chinese Catholic Church Christianity and communism in China Sino-Vatican relations ecclesiastical governance Cambridge University Press Cambridge University Press |
| topic_facet | Antonio Riberi Chinese Catholic Church Christianity and communism in China Sino-Vatican relations ecclesiastical governance Cambridge University Press Cambridge University Press |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/church-history/article/remaining-at-the-post-principle-for-catholic-clergy-during-chinas-political-transition-an-archival-reassessment/B242E5A491FA899B586168AAC224A7B7 |