Catholic Church in China

The Latest

Bishop James Su Zhimin. Image from Congressional - Executive Commission On China Political Prisoner Database.

Congressional hearing highlights case of missing Chinese Catholic bishop

Jul 30, 2020

By Matt Hadro

The fate of a long-imprisoned Catholic bishop in China was the focus of a congressional hearing on Thursday, amid growing... Read more

Chineses, Taiwanese and Vatican flags. Image via Shutterstock

Analysis: The Vatican and China Part III, Taiwan

Jul 24, 2020

By Ed Condon

With negotiations ongoing for an extension of the 2018 Vatican-China deal, the fate of Vatican-Taiwan relations may prove inextricable from... Read more

Hong Kong and Vatican flags. Image via Shutterstock

Analysis: The Vatican and China Part II, Hong Kong

Jul 23, 2020

By Ed Condon

As the Vatican and China negotiate an extension of the controversial 2018 deal, the Diocese of Hong Kong is at... Read more

CCTV surveillance cameras in Tiananmen Square.

China turns surveillance state on religious gatherings

Jul 22, 2020

By Matt Hadro

China is using advanced technology to monitor both public and private religious gatherings, witnesses told a federal hearing on Wednesday.  Read more

China & Vatican flags. Image via Shutterstock

Analysis: The Vatican and China Part I, the Mainland

Jul 22, 2020

By Ed Condon

While Catholic China watchers have long focused on the ongoing human rights crisis in the country, broader media attention has... Read more

People praying in Shanghai, China.

Chinese Christians told to replace Christ with Mao or lose government support

Jul 21, 2020

Government authorities in Shanxi, China, have ordered people who receive government assistance to replace religious symbols in their homes, including pictures... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong, speaks at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, Nov. 18, 2014.

Cardinal Zen: 'No confidence' in HK religious freedom after new security law

Jun 30, 2020

Cardinal Joseph Zen, the bishop emeritus of Hong Kong, has warned that new security laws in the province could lead... Read more

Cardinal John Tong Hon, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Hong Kong.

New Hong Kong laws will have 'no effect' on religious freedom says cardinal

Jun 24, 2020

Cardinal John Tong Hon, the apostolic administrator of Hong Kong, has rejected concerns that new security and sedition laws for the... Read more

Dalù stands in St. Peter’s Square.

Finding God in Shanghai: a Chinese convert’s path to faith

Jun 24, 2020

By Courtney Mares

At his baptism at a Catholic church in Shanghai, Dalù said that he “cried like a baby” knowing that his... Read more

Flags of Vatican City and China, via Shutterstock.

Underground bishop detained in China

Jun 22, 2020

Chinese officials reportedly arrested an elderly bishop of the underground Catholic Church last week.  Read more

Catholic Church of the Saviour in Xicheng District, Beijing, China.

Churches in China must preach 'patriotism' to reopen after coronavirus

Jun 5, 2020

State-sponsored Catholic authorities in parts of China have issued regulations on the reopening of churches during the coronavirus pandemic. The... Read more

Church cross against city background in China.

Chinese government resumes removal of crosses from church buildings

Apr 30, 2020

As the Chinese government makes progress containing the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities have resumed action to remove crosses from buildings and... Read more

Civilta Cattolica.

La Civiltà Cattolica launches Chinese edition

Apr 24, 2020

The Catholic periodical La Civiltà Cattolica will now be published in simplified Chinese, in what its publishers say is an... Read more

Stock image via hxdbzxy/Shutterstock

Coronavirus brings crackdown on house churches in China

Apr 3, 2020

Communist authorities in China are using efforts to control the coronavirus pandemic to step up enforcement action against Christians who worship... Read more

Pope Francis celebrated Mass during his pastoral visit to Bari, Italy, Jan. 23, 2020.

'Be truly Christians and good citizens' Pope tells Chinese Catholics

Mar 5, 2020

In a video released on Thursday by Vatican Media, Pope Francis announced that his prayer intention for the month of... Read more

Catholic pray outside of a Catholic Church in Nanma, June 2019.

Chinese Catholics pray outside closed churches in Mindong

Mar 2, 2020

New pictures and video appear to show Catholics praying outside of churches closed by the government in the Diocese of... Read more

Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See, meets with Wang Yi, China's foreign minister, in Munich, Feb. 14, 2020.

Chinese media: Recent meeting of Sino-Vatican diplomats was pope's idea

Feb 19, 2020

The Vatican secretary for relations with states, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, met with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of... Read more

Hong Kong Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

New Hong Kong bishop to be announced within weeks

Feb 17, 2020

By Ed Condon

Priests in the Diocese of Hong Kong are expecting the announcement of their new bishop within the next two weeks.  Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun departs the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome on Nov. 18, 2014_

'The Vatican lost everything, got nothing': An interview with Cardinal Zen

Feb 15, 2020

By Matt Hadro

Cardinal Joseph Zen gave an exclusive interview to CNA in which he discussed the Church in China and his relationship with Pope... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun speaks at the Asianews Conference at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, Nov. 18, 2014.

Cardinal Zen to Congressmen: China wants Vatican 'surrender'

Feb 11, 2020

By Matt Hadro

Cardinal Joseph Zen, the archbishop emeritus of Hong Kong, told CNA that the situation is dire for the Church in... Read more