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Pope Francis expressed his “special closeness and affection to all the Catholics in China”. Photo: Reuters

Pope Francis expresses ‘special affection’ for Chinese Catholics who suffer ‘daily hardships and trials’

  • Pontiff speaks as Vatican and China remain in implementation phase of landmark deal on the appointment of bishops
  • Holy See urges Catholics in China to ‘always remain united in communion with the universal Church’

Pope Francis paid tribute on Wednesday to Chinese Catholics for holding on to their faith despite “hardships and trials”, an apparent reference to Beijing’s restrictions on religion.

His comments to tens of thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his weekly general audience came as the Vatican and China are still in the implementation phase of a landmark deal, signed in September, on the appointment of bishops.

The deal has split Catholics in China and around the world, with some critics of the Pope saying he has caved in to the Communist government.

The deal’s most outspoken critic has been Cardinal Joseph Zen, the former archbishop of Hong Kong.

The Vatican’s deal with Beijing has split Catholics in China and around the world. Photo: Reuters

Francis said that this Friday would mark a feast day particularly celebrated by Catholics at the shrine of Our Lady of Sheshan, near Shanghai.

“This happy occasion allows me to express special closeness and affection to all the Catholics in China, who, among daily hardships and trials, continue to believe, to hope and to love,” he said.

Pope admits Catholics will suffer after Vatican deal with Beijing

He also urged Catholics in China to “always remain united in communion with the universal Church”.

China’s constitution guarantees religious freedom, but since President Xi Jinping took office six years ago, the government has tightened restrictions on religions seen as a challenge to the authority of the ruling Communist Party.

The government has cracked down on underground churches, both Protestant and Catholic, even as it seeks to improve relations with the Vatican.

China has been following a policy it calls the “Sinicisation” of religion, trying to root out foreign influences and enforce obedience to the Communist Party.

China has been following a policy it calls the “Sinicisation” of religion. Photo: EPA-EFE

Restrictions on religion in China have attracted particular concern in the United States. In March, during a visit to Hong Kong, the US ambassador for religious freedom called on Beijing to end religious persecution.

Also in March, a senior Chinese official accused Western forces of trying to use Christianity to influence Chinese society and even “subvert” the government, warning that Chinese Christians needed to follow a Chinese model of the religion.

The Pope has defended the Vatican deal with China on the appointment of bishops, saying he, and not the Beijing government, would have the final say on who was named.

China’s 12 million Catholics have been split between an underground church swearing loyalty to the Vatican and the state-supervised Catholic Patriotic Association.

The Vatican has said the absence of a deal could have led to a schism between Chinese Catholics that would have been difficult to heal.

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