Catholic Church in China

The Latest

Cardinal Joseph Zen arrives at a court for his trial in Hong Kong on Sept. 26, 2022.

Persecution of 10 Catholic bishops in China intensified after Vatican-China deal, report says

Oct 21, 2024

By Courtney Mares

A new report by religious freedom advocate Nina Shea for the Hudson Institute sheds light on the repression faced by... Read more

Delegates at the 2024 Synod on Synodality participate in roundtable meetings on Oct. 10, 2024, in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican.

Analysis: A Chinese bishop takes the floor for the first time at the Synod on Synodality

Oct 11, 2024

By Andrea Gagliarducci

There has been one noteworthy development so far in the Synod on Synodality’s second week — and it’s not the... Read more

Bishop Yao Shun of Jining  and Bishop Yang Yongqiang of Zhouchun (right) of the People’s Republic of China at the Synod on Synodality at the Vatican in October 2023.

Catholic bishops from mainland China and Taiwan in dialogue at Synod on Synodality

Oct 8, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Bishop Norbert Pu is the Catholic Church’s first bishop born in Taiwan and is a delegate in the nearly monthlong... Read more

A worshipper waves the flag of China as Pope Francis leaves following the weekly general audience on June 12, 2019, at St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.

Pope’s Asia visit draws attention to Holy See’s delicate China diplomacy

Sep 16, 2024

By AC Wimmer

As the Vatican-China deal nears renewal, Pope Francis’ Asia tour sparked debate on the future of the Holy See’s ties... Read more

Vatican and China flags.

China officially recognizes formerly ‘underground’ bishop, Vatican says

Aug 27, 2024

By Kristina Millare

The bishop had reportedly once been placed under house arrest after refusing to join the church officially backed by the... Read more

Jimmy Lai and other demonstrators had been convicted in 2021 of taking part in what the Hong Kong government had argued was an “unauthorized assembly” at Victoria Park in Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay neighborhood.

Hong Kong court rejects Catholic democracy activist Jimmy Lai’s appeal of 2021 conviction

Aug 12, 2024

By Daniel Payne

Lai and other demonstrators had been convicted in 2021 of taking part in what the Hong Kong government had argued... Read more

Bishop Yao Shun of Jining  and Bishop Yang Yongqiang of Zhouchun (right) of the People's Republic of China at the Synod on Synodality at the Vatican in October 2023.

Pope Francis names Chinese bishop who attended Synod to Archdiocese of Hangzhou

Jun 22, 2024

By Hannah Brockhaus

The new archbishop was one of two bishops from mainland China to participate in the October 2023 session of the... Read more

Mark Clifford, president of the Committee for Freedom of Hong Kong and the author of a forthcoming biography of Jimmy Lai, speaks with “EWTN News Nightly” on June 11, 2024.

Jimmy Lai biographer: Trial is a ‘sham,’ but faith gives him ‘strength’

Jun 12, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

Lai, the Chinese-born founder of the anti-government newspaper Apple Daily, entered a not guilty plea to charges of conspiring to... Read more

Bishop Stephen Chow of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong cardinal urges forgiveness on Tiananmen Square 35th anniversary

Jun 4, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

During the June 4, 1989, clash between protesters and Chinese troops, tanks rolled into Beijing’s main city square and military... Read more

Frances Hui is policy and advocacy coordinator for the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation.

As Jimmy Lai languishes in prison, fellow activists convicted in Hong Kong

May 31, 2024

By Kate Quiñones

Fourteen pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong have been convicted of subversion while billionaire Catholic convert Jimmy Lai, 76, remains imprisoned. Read more

National Shrine and Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Sheshan, also known as Basilica of Mary, Help of Christians, in Shanghai, China.

Why the feast of Mary, Help of Christians is a special day for Catholics in China

May 24, 2024

By Jonah McKeown

Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed May 24, the feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians, to also be a World Day... Read more

Shanghai Bishop Shen Bin speaks to Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin at a Vatican conference on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.

Bishop of Shanghai defends China’s religious freedom record at Vatican conference

May 22, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The controversial Chinese bishop was a featured speaker at a Vatican conference beside Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Read more

Pope Francis delivers a video message to the conference “100 Years Since the ‘Concilium Sinense’” at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

Pope Francis praises historic council in China as ‘an authentic synodal journey’

May 21, 2024

By Courtney Mares

In a video message to a conference in Rome, the pope noted that Chinese Catholics have endured “times of patience... Read more

On March 30, 1926, Cardinal van Rossum, prefect of Propaganda Fide, announced Pope Pius XI’s decision to consecrate the first six Chinese bishops, a ceremony that was held in St. Peter’s Basilica on Oct. 28 of that year.

It’s been 100 years since the Catholic Church’s first Council in China

May 15, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

The council had a dual purpose: to initiate the process of ecclesial inculturation and to decouple the missions from the... Read more

Hong Kong.Hong Kong media tycoon and founder of Apple Daily newspaper Jimmy Lai Chee Ying arrives at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Court, May 18, 2020.

Hong Kong activist: Proposed law could worsen religious liberty, persecute Catholics

Feb 13, 2024

By Tyler Arnold

If enacted, Article 23 would expand the law to bolster the government’s crackdown on political dissidents, which has been ongoing... Read more

The Mass of episcopal consecration for Bishop Peter Wu Yishun was celebrated in the Church of Chengguan in the district of Jianyang in the city of Nanping and celebrated by Joseph Li Shan, the archbishop of Beijing, president of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA), and vice chairman of the Chinese Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

Holy See appoints third Chinese bishop in less than a week, signaling shift toward Beijing 

Jan 31, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

Father Peter Wu Yishun was named the bishop of the Apostolic Prefecture of Shaowu (Minbei) in the third appointment of... Read more

The Vatican announced the erection of the Weifang diocese on Jan. 29, 2024, the day of the consecration of the diocese’s first bishop, Bishop Anthony Sun Venjun.

Pope Francis creates ‘new’ diocese in China, accepting borders drawn by Beijing

Jan 29, 2024

By Courtney Mares

The Holy See Press Office said Pope Francis established the diocese on April 20, 2023, “in the desire to promote... Read more

Pope Francis gave a special message to Chinese Catholics at the end of his Mass in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Sept. 3, 2023.

Pope appoints new bishop in China, bringing a 70-year vacancy to an end

Jan 25, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

The Holy See Press Office announced on Thursday that Father Thaddeus Wang Yuesheng was appointed by Pope Francis as the... Read more

Chinese flags on barbed wired wall in Kashgar (Kashi), Xinjiang, China.

Chinese bishop who was removed from diocese by Communist regime is arrested

Jan 5, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin was arrested on Jan. 2 and reportedly instructed to “take clothes for spring, summer, autumn, and... Read more

Catholics celebrate Christmas Mass at the Nativity of Our Lady Church on Dec. 24, 2019, in Macau, China.

Christian population shrinking in China amid ‘crackdown’

Dec 15, 2023

By Zelda Caldwell

This finding, human rights activists told CNA, is not surprising given the Chinese Communist Party’s efforts in recent years to... Read more