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Pope Francis greets the pilgrims during his weekly general audience in St Peter's square on September 10, 2014.

Pope Francis responds to heresy accusation, China concerns

May 29, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis said he reacted “with a sense of humor” to the accusation of heresy made against him earlier this... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in Gyumri Armenia June 25, 2016.

Pope Francis prays for China invoking Mary Help of Christians

May 22, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis Wednesday asked Our Lady Help of Christians to intercede for Chinese Catholics, whom he said continue to believe... Read more

Secretary of State of the Holy See Cardinal Pietro Parolin during a meeting with President of Ukraine, June, 2016.

Beijing and Rome can work together, Parolin tells Chinese media

May 13, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Cardinal Pietro Parolin welcomed the opportunity for China and the Holy See to work together to “build a more secure and prosperous world.”  Read more

Flag of China.

After Vatican-China deal, Chinese bishop imprisoned for 23 years is not yet released

May 8, 2019

The nephew of a Chinese bishop who was arrested 23 years ago has said he does not know where his... Read more

Sacred Heart Cathedral in Guangzhou.

Chinese city offers cash incentives to informants on illegal religious groups

Apr 1, 2019

Guangzhou, the capital of China's Guangdong province, is offering to pay citizens in exchange for information on “illegal religious groups”... Read more

For US religious freedom ambassador, concerns remain on Vatican-China deal

Mar 12, 2019

The Vatican’s deal with China on the appointment of bishops has not changed the government’s abuse of Catholics and sets... Read more

Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Vatican-China deal must be implemented, Parolin says

Mar 1, 2019

By Andrea Gagliarducci

Speaking at a conference on Vatican diplomacy, the Holy See’s Secretary of State stressed that it is now important “to... Read more

Guangzhou/China - August 16 2018: Grotto of Our Lady at Sha Mian Tang church in Shamian Island.

'God has become my light' A Chinese teen’s conversion story

Dec 28, 2018

By Courtney Mares

At the age of 14, Yuan made the decision to become a Catholic. “I found a freedom that I had... Read more

Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, who met recently with Bishop Vincent Guo Xijin to secure his retirement, says Mass in Rome Jan. 22, 2016.

After China deal, two underground bishops step down at Vatican's request

Dec 14, 2018

Two underground bishops in China have agreed to step aside in favor of bishops of the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association,... Read more

Flags of China and Vatican City.

Chinese human rights activist on Vatican-China deal: 'A slap in the face'

Nov 27, 2018

Chinese human rights activist Chen Guangcheng called the Vatican’s pact with China over the selection of bishops “preposterous” in a... Read more

CRISPR-CAS9 gene editing complex from Streptococcus pyogenes.

Claim of creating genetically-edited babies prompts ethics dispute

Nov 27, 2018

A Chinese scientist says he has created the first genetically edited babies, a claim that has led members of the... Read more

Chinese flag.

What is it like to be an underground Chinese seminarian?

Nov 24, 2018

Wang Jie (a fictional name) is a deacon belonging to the Chinese underground Church. He has spent several years studying... Read more

Uyghurs at a mosque in Kashgar, Xinjiang, China, September 2010.

Congressional bill aims for human rights for China’s Uyghurs

Nov 15, 2018

Legislation could help advance religious freedom and human rights in China’s far western province of Xinjiang, say U.S. lawmakers concerned... Read more

Human rights advocates: UN must address Chinese internment camps

Nov 7, 2018

Human rights advocates are calling on the United Nations to address reports of Chinese internment camps holding 1 million Muslim... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen.

Cardinal Zen: The Vatican is badly mishandling China situation

Oct 25, 2018

The recent agreement between the Vatican and China is a step towards the “annihilation” of the Catholic Church in China,... Read more

Bishop Joseph Guo Jincai (left) and Bishop Yang Xiaoting (right) at Opening of the XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.

Tiananmen Square to St. Peter’s Square: Who are the Chinese bishops at the synod?

Oct 17, 2018

By Courtney Mares

Weeks after his excommunication was lifted last month as a part of an agreement between China and the Holy See,... Read more

Taiwan & Vatican Flags are waving in the sky with dark clouds.

Taiwan offers second invitation to pope following Vatican-China deal

Oct 15, 2018

Taiwan’s government has issued a second invitation for Pope Francis to visit the country, a move which follows new developments... Read more

The flags of the People's Republic of China and Vatican City.

Holy See-China agreement draws criticism from US religious freedom advocates

Sep 30, 2018

By Kevin J. Jones

The Holy See’s provisional agreement with China on the appointment of bishops has drawn criticism from some U.S. religious freedom... Read more

Pope Francis prepares to board the papal plane, Jan. 15, 2018.

Pope Francis takes responsibility for China deal

Sep 25, 2018

Pope Francis took responsibility Tuesday for the agreement between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China, noting that... Read more

Pilgrims from China at the general audience in St. Peter's Square on April 5, 2016.

Archbishop McCarrick’s unofficial role in Vatican-China relations

Sep 17, 2018

By Courtney Mares

Over 20 years, Archbishop McCarrick traveled to China on at least eight occasions, sometimes staying in a state-controlled Beijing seminary,... Read more