Chinese silence after Pope Francis's passing raises eyebrows
The death of Pope Francis was not reported by government-controlled Chinese Catholic organizations. Even a day later, the websites and social media of the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CPCA) made no mention of it.
What you need to know
- Lack of information in China: A full day after the death of Pope Francis, Chinese Catholic organizations under government control did not release any information about it.
- Reactions in the region: Dioceses in Hong Kong, Macau, and Vietnam published condolences and called for prayers.
- Temporary agreement with the Vatican: In 2018, Beijing and the Vatican signed an agreement regarding the appointment of bishops to enhance relations.
Chinese state media made only brief mentions of the death of Pope Francis, noting his name and the date he became pope.
Chinese media silent on the pope's death
None of the dioceses, including the Beijing Archdiocese, nor any organizations affiliated with the Church had acknowledged the news.
An exception is the Catholic weekly Xinde, which on Monday published a Chinese translation of a statement from the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is managing the Church until Francis's successor is chosen, and encouraged the faithful to pray.
Despite Pope Francis’s notable efforts to advance dialogue with Beijing in recent years, it appears that any official reaction will depend on the Chinese Communist Party, which is expected to issue a response within the next few hours, according to the Catholic outlet Asia News.
In Hong Kong, Bishop Stephen Chow, who was appointed as a cardinal by Francis in 2023, expressed his condolences and urged the faithful to pray. The Diocese of Macau posted a photo of Pope Francis on its website, expressing sorrow over his passing.
The Vietnam Bishops' Conference expressed that the global Church is in mourning for a compassionate, modest, and kind leader who consistently devoted himself to supporting the poor and the marginalized.
Diplomatic relations between Beijing and the Vatican have been absent since 1951, following Mao Zedong's ban on the Catholic Church and the establishment of the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association. In 2018, a temporary agreement on the appointment of bishops was signed, which has since been extended three times to improve bilateral relations.
