Catholic Church in China

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Who are the Chinese bishops attending the Synod on Synodality?

Sep 21, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Bishop Antonio Yao Shun of Jining and Bishop Joseph Yang Yongqiang of Zhoucun will participate in the October assembly. Read more

Pope Francis greets Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, the president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, on Feb. 20, 2023.

Synod 2023: Participants to include two bishops from mainland China, Archbishop Paglia

Sep 21, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The leadership of the Synod on Synodality have released the final list of participants for the first session of the... Read more

Bishop Ignatius Kung Pin-Mei in 1949.

A profile in courage: Cardinal Kung and Catholic resistance in Shanghai  

Sep 8, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

Nearly 70 years after his arrest, Cardinal Ignatius Kung is remembered as he preached fidelity to the successor of Peter... Read more

Catholics hold Chinese flags at Pope Francis' Mass in Mongolia's Steppe Arena in Ulaanbaatar on Sept. 4, 2023.

Catholics from mainland China and across Asia in Mongolia for Mass with Pope Francis

Sep 3, 2023

By Courtney Mares, Rachel Thomas

While papal Masses on the pope’s other trips can draw hundreds of thousands of people, the Mass in Ulaanbaatar only... Read more

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Lawmaker warns of Chinese communists changing the Bible

Aug 21, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wisconsin, shared examples of the Chinese government changing Scripture to serve its goals. Read more

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

Pope Francis confirms Shanghai bishop appointed in violation of Vatican-China deal

Jul 15, 2023

By Courtney Mares, Matthew Santucci

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin announced on Saturday that Pope Francis wanted to “remedy the canonical irregularity created... Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience in St Peter’s Square on May 31, 2023.

Pope Francis praises Matteo Ricci for proclaiming the Gospel in China

May 31, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The pope dedicated his entire catechesis to sharing the life of Venerable Matteo Ricci, a 16th-century Jesuit missionary in China. Read more

Pilgrims wave a Chinese flag at the general audience with Pope Francis, Oct. 12, 2022.

Pope Francis: Pray that the Gospel can be freely shared in China

May 24, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

On May 24, the Catholic Church celebrates the World Day of Prayer for China. Read more

Bishop Stephen Chow of Hong Kong.

Historic trip of bishop of Hong Kong to Beijing is the first in three decades

Apr 18, 2023

By Walter Sanchez Silva

Bishop Stephen Chow of Hong Kong arrived yesterday in Beijing, the capital of China, amid some tensions between the Asian... Read more

The installation ceremony of Bishop John Peng Weizhao in Nanchang, China, on Nov. 24, 2022.

Report: Chinese bishop appointed to Shanghai without Vatican approval

Apr 4, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

A Chinese bishop was installed Tuesday as the bishop of Shanghai without the Vatican’s approval, according to Asia News. Read more

Pope Francis waves at pilgrims from China at the general audience in St. Peter's Square on Sept. 7, 2016.

Local Chinese authorities order parents at school to sign pledge renouncing their faith 

Mar 23, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

In another crackdown on religious freedom, authorities in an eastern Chinese city ordered parents to sign a pledge that affirms... Read more

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.

Vatican-China deal ‘not the best deal possible,’ top Holy See diplomat says

Mar 14, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher said that negotiations are underway to make the the Vatican-China deal “work better.” Read more

A house church in Beijing, China.

China’s new ‘Smart Religion’ app requires faithful to register to attend worship services

Mar 7, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

A human rights group said the app is part of the communist government’s efforts to “strictly manage religion in a... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen, former bishop of Hong Hong, attends the funeral Mass for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on Jan. 5, 2023, in St. Peter's Square.

Cardinal Zen attends Benedict XVI funeral after Hong Kong authorities release passport

Jan 5, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The 90-year-old cardinal from Hong Kong arrived in St. Peter’s Square dressed in red and walking with a cane to... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen preaches a sermon during a Mass at the Holy Cross Church on May 24, 2022, in Hong Kong, China.

Cardinal Zen: Benedict XVI will be a ‘powerful intercessor in heaven’ for China

Jan 3, 2023

By Courtney Mares

In a reflection posted on his blog on Jan. 3, Cardinal Joseph Zen remembered Benedict XVI as a “great defender... Read more

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

Vatican says China violated terms of agreement with bishop installation

Nov 26, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The Holy See “noted with surprise and regret” that Bishop John Peng Weizhao had been installed as an “auxiliary bishop... Read more

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle speaking at the Vatican on Oct. 21, 2021.

Cardinal Tagle defends Vatican-China deal

Oct 25, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has defended the Vatican’s decision to renew its provisional agreement with China on the appointment of... Read more

Pilgrims wave a Chinese flag at the general audience with Pope Francis, Oct. 12, 2022.

Vatican renews China deal for second time

Oct 22, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

The terms of the deal, first signed in 2018, have not been made public. Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen.

Cardinal Zen’s second day in court: Magistrate rules there is sufficient evidence

Sep 28, 2022

By Courtney Mares

On Tuesday, Cardinal Joseph Zen’s second day in court in Hong Kong, the magistrate ruled that there was sufficient evidence... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen speaks during a Mass at the Holy Cross Church on May 24, 2022, in Hong Kong, China. The cardinal was set to stand trial on Sept. 19, 2022, in connection to his role as a trustee of a pro-democracy legal fund, which he and other trustees are accused of failing to register civilly. The trial was delayed.

Cardinal Zen’s trial has been delayed due to COVID

Sep 19, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

The criminal trial of Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun of Hong Kong has been delayed after the judge tested positive for... Read more