ROME (AP) 鈥 Pope Leo XIV asked Sunday for prayers for China鈥檚 Catholics to be in communion with the Holy See, as he made his first public remarks about one of the thorniest foreign policy issues facing his new pontificate.
History鈥檚 first American pope recalled that on Saturday the Catholic Church marked a special feast day to pray for the church in China. had initiated the feast day as part of his efforts to unify China鈥檚 estimated 12 million Catholics who were divided between an official, state-controlled church that didn鈥檛 recognize papal authority, and an underground church that remained loyal to Rome through decades of persecution.
Leo noted that on the feast day 鈥渋n the churches and shrines in China and throughout the world, prayers have been raised to God as a sign of the solicitude and affection for Chinese Catholics and their communion with the universal church.鈥
Speaking from his studio window during his noontime blessing, Leo prayed that Catholics in China and elsewhere 鈥渙btain the grace to be strong and joyful witnesses of the Gospel, even in the midst of trials, to always promote peace and harmony.鈥
Pope Francis took Benedict鈥檚 unifying efforts further by approving a over bishop nominations. The details of the deal were never released, but it affords the state-controlled church a say in its church leaders, though Francis insisted he retained veto power over the ultimate choice.
The deal has been criticized by some, especially on the Catholic right, for having and sold out the underground faithful in China. The Vatican has said it was the and it has been renewed periodically since then.
Leo will have to decide whether to continue renewing the accord. There have been some apparent violations on the Beijing side with some that occurred without papal consent. The issue came to a head just before the conclave that elected Leo pope, when the Chinese church proceeded with the preliminary election of two bishops, a step that comes before official consecration.
Leo told the archbishop of Hong Kong, Cardinal Stephen Chow, that he had 鈥渧isited China several times and got to know the Chinese culture and reality,鈥 according to the Fides missionary news agency, citing comments Chow made in his diocesan weekly newsletter after the conclave.
Chow added that he expected Leo would for the church in China. He said he had given Leo a small statue of Our Lady of Sheshan, a statue of the Madonna that is particularly venerated by Chinese faithful and is celebrated on the feast day, May 24.
Chow, a Jesuit, said he had implored Leo 鈥渢o not forget the church in China and the Chinese people,鈥 according to the newsletter. 鈥淗e nodded his head to indicate that he will not forget,鈥 according to Fides.
The Vatican has been that were officially severed over seven decades ago when the Communists came to power. Relations had long been stymied over China鈥檚 insistence on its exclusive right to name bishops as a matter of national sovereignty, while the Vatican insisted on the pope鈥檚 exclusive right to name the successors of the original Apostles.
The 2018 deal was aimed at uniting the flock, regularizing the status of seven bishops who weren鈥檛 recognized by Rome and thawing decades of estrangement between China and the Vatican.
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