The Chinese Communist Party’s response to Pope Francis’ death was minimal, reflecting a harsh stance.
The president of International Christian Concern, Jeff King, noted that under Xi Jinping, the Communist Party asserts that the only significant authority is in Beijing, disregarding the Pope in Rome. He warned that the government’s oppressive actions and the persecution of Christians have intensified significantly, particularly amidst a growing Christian population in China.
Estimates suggest that there are between 70 to 130 million Christians in China, with some figures indicating that there could even be around 100 million – surpassing the number of Communist Party members. However, accurately determining the true number of Christians is challenging, as the regime actively obstructs worship practices.
China recognizes five religions legally, which include a government-controlled Catholic Church and a state-backed Protestant group known as the Three-Self Church, along with regulated Islam and Buddhism. Children are prohibited from participating in religious services to prevent any spread of beliefs outside the Communist Party’s ideology. Recently, a law was enacted that effectively bans missionary work, requiring that any such activities have government approval.
Pope Francis passed away on April 21 after a battle with respiratory illness, surprising many observers.
Following his death, Guo Zi-Kung from China’s Foreign Ministry stated that China felt sadness over the Pope’s passing. He mentioned that China and the Vatican have been working toward improving their relationship through constructive engagement.
The Foreign Ministry claimed no representatives were sent to honor the Pope at his funeral. Throughout his life, Pope Francis maintained a carefully respectful relationship with the Communist Party, avoiding harsh criticisms of one of the world’s most repressive regimes, often describing the situation as “complicated.”
King indicated that the sparse public acknowledgment of the Pope’s death is aimed at unsettling Chinese Christians about their identity. He also expressed concern over the fears that the Vatican harbors regarding the Communist leadership.
He remarked that the lack of a high-level response from Beijing reveals the true stakes involved. The CCP’s decision not to send officials to honor the Pope reflects how Xi views religious authority, even as Francis sought to establish a bridge.
King pointed out that this is not merely a petty attack on Christianity but rather a matter of power dynamics. The Vatican poses a threat to the party’s control over the Chinese populace, which Xi cannot accept.
By failing to respect Francis’ legacy at his funeral, the message to Chinese Catholics is clear: their primary loyalty should lie with the Communist Party rather than the Pope, as described by King.
King also noted that during discussions about underground churches, he’s witnessed fear among officials aware that citizens may still revere higher authorities beyond the party’s control.
Alongside ongoing suppression of independent religious practices, the government has intensified measures, forcing Christians to display Party propaganda alongside crosses. As of May 1, a new directive has essentially criminalized missionary work, making it nearly impossible for foreigners to engage in religious activities alongside Chinese believers.
New regulations restrict religious gatherings to foreign participants only, justified by claims that some foreigners have disrupted social harmony with illegal sermons.
King emphasized that requiring government endorsement for religious activities renders such activities meaningless, asserting that the approval system is merely a pretext, ultimately stifling genuine missionary work.
He criticized the new law as absurd, pointing out that the government’s oppression has inadvertently fueled the church’s growth from 4 million members when the CCP took power to an estimated 150 million today.
Despite persistent persecution, the church continues to thrive. When the CCP rose to power, Christian numbers were significantly lower than what they are now, demonstrating the resilience of faith amidst oppression.
