On Friday, China’s Foreign Ministry extended congratulations to Pope Leo XIV on his recent ascension as head of the Catholic Church, indicating a desire for “dialogue” between Beijing and the Vatican.
Spokesperson Lin Zian noted that China’s measured response to the passing of Pope Francis suggests a lack of overt hostility towards his successor. Under the Communist regime, many Christians felt “betrayed” by Pope Francis, who seemed to engage with the Chinese government while they struggled to reconcile their faith with the dominating ideology.
Despite escalating oppression of Christians, Pope Francis largely refrained from condemning the Chinese state. Following his death, the government took over 24 hours to acknowledge it, did not send officials to the funeral, and offered only tepid remarks about him.
Responding to questions about Pope Leo XIV’s election, Lin remarked that China hopes it could foster a more peaceful global atmosphere.
“Cardinal Robert Prebble celebrates the election of the new Pope,” Lin stated. “We anticipate that the new leadership will foster constructive dialogue between the Vatican and China, focusing on mutual interests and working towards better relations that contribute to global peace.”
Cardinal Robert F. Martinez was appointed on Wednesday after Pope Francis’ tenure, making history as the first pope born in America and the second Hispanic pope overall. His remarkable background sets him apart from recent Popes, who often come from scholarly or bureaucratic backgrounds.
Given his mission-focused upbringing, Pope Leo has issued few comments regarding China or how he intends to navigate the challenging relationship with the Chinese Communist Party. After becoming a Cardinal, he did not delve into how he would handle the complexities posed by the Communist regime, which presents a stark contrast to his home country of Peru.
He mentioned in an interview:
When considering priorities and challenges, we must recognize the varied urgency among countries such as Italy, Spain, the US, Peru, and China.
While priorities differ by region, acknowledging the diversity within the Church helps us respond effectively to the needs of our communities.
As it stands, the Vatican recognizes Taiwan’s sovereignty, which complicates its diplomatic relationship with China. Domestically, the Communist Party tightly controls religious practices, allowing only five religions, including a state-run version of Catholicism. Pope Francis sought to bridge the divide between the official Catholic Church and the state-controlled faction, resulting in the Vatican’s recognition of Communist bishops.
However, this agreement failed to improve the situation for Christians, with reports of persecution against genuine Catholic bishops in China. The Hudson Institute noted in 2024 that many Vatican-approved bishops had vanished, facing indefinite detention or investigations by authorities.
“The Vatican’s agreement aimed at uniting the Chinese Church effectively undermines the genuine Church in China,” said Cardinal Joseph Zen of Hong Kong, a vocal critic of the previous Pope’s approach.
Pope Francis’ overtures to the Chinese government did not seem to shift attitudes in Beijing.
“China expressed regret over Pope Francis’ death. In recent times, both parties have maintained constructive exchanges,” a statement from April noted, shortly after the Pope’s passing. “China is ready to collaborate with the Vatican to improve relations.”
However, the absence of official condolences from the CCP for Pope Francis’ funeral highlighted their views on religious authority, according to Jeff King from the International Christian Concern group. He remarked that the government’s disregard sends a stark message to Catholics: their loyalty must lie with the party, overshadowing any allegiance to the Pope.
King emphasized that the Vatican’s moral authority poses a challenge to the Communist Party, as it transcends political boundaries and appeals directly to the populace.
