Pope Leo XIV has offered prayers for Catholics in China to guide and strengthen believers as they continue to live out their faith amid ongoing challenges.
Speaking after the Sunday Angelus on 24 May, the Holy Father invited Catholics around the world to pray in solidarity with the Church in China. He said Chinese Catholics remain spiritually united with the universal Church and the Pope.
The Pope’s message marked the World Day of Prayer for the Church in China, introduced by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007. The annual day of prayer coincides with the feast of Mary Help of Christians, a title especially honoured at the Sheshan Shrine in Shanghai.
Pope Leo entrusted Chinese Catholics to the care of the Virgin Mary, praying that they would remain faithful and united. He also asked God to give them strength to witness to the Gospel in their daily lives and become signs of hope and peace.
His remarks come during a period of increasing concern over religious freedom in China. Human Rights Watch has reported that authorities have stepped up pressure on underground Catholic communities to join the state-approved Church. The organisation said measures have included tighter monitoring, ideological control, and restrictions on movement.
The rights group also raised concerns about the 2018 provisional agreement between the Vatican and China regarding the appointment of bishops. While the agreement helped resolve a long-standing dispute, critics argue that it has also made some Catholics more vulnerable to government pressure.
China’s “Sinicisation” policy, introduced under President Xi Jinping in 2016, encourages religions in the country to align more closely with Chinese culture and Communist Party principles.
During his address, Pope Leo also prayed for those affected by the recent gas explosion at the Liushenyu Coal Mine in Shanxi province. According to reports, at least 82 people lost their lives and many others were injured in the tragedy, which is being described as China’s deadliest mining disaster in more than a decade.
The Pope expressed his prayers for the victims, their families, and all those involved in rescue and recovery efforts.
Adapted from reports by UCA News.
