At the same time, many Catholic bishops of both the patriotic and underground variety are just now receiving copies of a letter sent by the Vatican last April. The letter, penned by Cardinal Bertone, elaborates on Pope Benedict XVI's letter of 2007 to the Church in China, clarifying how bishops can act upon the papal directives toward resolving the conflict between the open and underground Church communities and fostering a respectful and direct dialogue with civil authorities.

Bertone's letter was sent to 90 Vatican approved bishops in China. Since April, four bishops have died and no new bishops have been ordained. Of the 86 remaining bishops, approximately 26 have never registered with the Patriotic Church. These loyal bishops are all either in hiding, in prison, or under house arrest. Some have disappeared into state custody and it is not known if they are alive or dead. 

At the 50th anniversary of the selection and consecration of the first bishops of the Chinese Catholic Church, Central Committee spokesman Du Qinglin reiterated that relations betwen China and the Vatican will improve only after the Holy See severs diplomatic ties with Taiwan and renounces any interference in the internal affairs of China, even under the guise of religion. Bertone's letter calling China's bishops to action would certainly qualify as the kind of interference Beijing finds so objectionable.