The newly appointed Pope Leo XIV is being urged to reassess the Vatican’s 2018 agreement with China, which permits Beijing to appoint bishops for state-sanctioned churches. Human Rights Watch has called for this review and has also asked the Pope to advocate for an end to the persecution of underground churches, clergy, and worshipers in China.
Reports indicate that during the mourning period for Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025, the Chinese government proceeded with appointments of an auxiliary bishop in Shanghai and a bishop in Xinxiang, Henan province. Maya Wang from Human Rights Watch stated, “Pope Leo XIV has an opportunity to make a fresh start with China to protect the religious freedom of China’s Catholics.”
China’s estimated 12 million Catholics are largely restricted to official churches under the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association. Those attending underground “house churches” face persecution. The government frequently raids these underground churches and arrests unapproved clergy and congregants.
Human Rights Watch has called on Pope Leo XIV to demand the release of several Catholic clergy who have been imprisoned or subjected to other forms of harassment. These include James Su Zhimin, Augustine Cui Tai, Julius Jia Zhiguo, Joseph Zhang Weizhu, Peter Shao Zhumin, and Thaddeus Ma Daqin.
The 2018 Provisional Agreement regarding the Appointment of Bishops aimed to resolve disputes over bishop appointments in China by allowing Beijing to propose candidates while giving veto power to the pope. Despite this provision, there have been instances where China unilaterally appointed bishops without Vatican approval.
Since its inception, ten bishops have been appointed under this agreement. However, violations occurred when unilateral appointments were made by China in 2022 and 2023. In a statement renewing the agreement in 2024, the Vatican expressed its intention to benefit both China’s Catholic Church and its people.
China regulates all religious practices within five officially recognized religions and maintains control over church operations including personnel appointments and finances. The agreement was established during President Xi Jinping’s campaign for tighter control over religions under his “Sinicization” policy.
This period also saw intensified repression against various religious groups in China. For instance, hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs remain detained due to their Islamic faith as part of broader measures affecting religious freedom across different regions like Tibet.
Maya Wang emphasized that “Chinese Catholics worshiping in underground churches are among the ‘ordinary people’ on whom Pope Leo has said the church should focus its attention.” She added that it is crucial for religious freedom that “the Catholic church stands on their side.”
