Pope Leo XIV has made his first public remarks on one of the Catholic Church’s most complex foreign policy issues, praying for China’s Catholics to be in communion with the Holy See. On the feast day initiated by Pope Benedict XVI to pray for the church in China, Leo noted that “in the churches and shrines in China and throughout the world, prayers have been raised to God as a sign of the solicitude and affection for Chinese Catholics and their communion with the universal church.” He prayed that Catholics in China and elsewhere “obtain the grace to be strong and joyful witnesses of the Gospel, even in the midst of trials, to always promote peace and harmony”.
The Pope’s comments come as the Vatican continues to navigate its relationship with China, which was officially severed over seven decades ago when the Communists came to power. Pope Francis took steps to unify China’s estimated 12 million Catholics, divided between an official state-controlled church and an underground church loyal to Rome, by approving a deal in 2018 over bishop nominations. This deal allows the state-controlled church a say in church leaders while retaining papal veto power.
However, some critics argue that the Vatican has compromised on its principles, and there have been apparent violations by the Beijing side, including unilateral appointments without papal consent. Cardinal Stephen Chow of Hong Kong revealed that Pope Leo XIV had “visited China several times and got to know the Chinese culture and reality”. Chow expects Leo to follow Francis’ direction for the church in China and reported that the Pope “nodded his head to indicate that he will not forget” the church in China and its people.
In his prayer, Pope Leo XIV echoed Pope Francis’ sentiments, saying, “May our brothers and sisters in China know that Catholics are close to them, sharing joys and hope, and that all those who suffer find consolation in the communion of the universal church”. The Pope’s approach to China will likely be watched closely, given the complexities of the relationship between the Vatican and Beijing.