Hong Kong, China, Oct 26, 2018 / 12:00 am (CNA).- The recent agreement between the Vatican and China is a step towards the “annihilation” of the Catholic Church in China, Cardinal Joseph Zen, former bishop of Hong Kong, wrote in a New York Times op-ed published on Wednesday.

Zen, who has been openly critical of Vatican’s approach towards China in the past, did not hold back in his assessment of Pope Francis’ new deal and in offering his views on communist governments.