China remains silent as Pope Francis' death goes unreported
The death of Pope Francis was notably unreported by Chinese government-controlled Catholic organisations. A day later, the websites and social media channels of the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CPCA) still failed to mention the event.
What should you know?
- Lack of information in China: The day after Pope Francis's death, government-controlled Chinese Catholic organisations had not made any statement regarding the matter.
- Reactions in the region: Dioceses in Hong Kong and Macau, as well as in 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 improve relations.
Chinese state media only briefly mentioned the death of Pope Francis, recalling his name and the date he was elected pope.
Chinese media silent on the death of the pope
Until Tuesday afternoon (local time), none of the dioceses, including the Beijing Archdiocese, nor organisations affiliated with the Church acknowledged this information.
The exception is the portal of the Catholic weekly Xinde, which on Monday published the Chinese translation of a statement from the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who manages the Church until a successor to Francis is chosen and encouraged the faithful to pray.
Although Pope Francis has played a key role in fostering dialogue with Beijing in recent years, the final word appears to rest with the Chinese Communist Party, which is expected to issue an official response in the near future, according to the Catholic portal Asia News.
In Hong Kong, Bishop Stephen Chow, appointed as a cardinal by Francis in 2023, expressed condolences and called on the faithful to pray. The Diocese of Macau posted a photo of Pope Francis on their website, expressing sorrow over his passing.
The Vietnam Bishops' Conference emphasized that the global Church is grieving the loss of a kind-hearted, modest, and compassionate pastor who consistently showed concern for the poor and those on the margins of society.
Since 1951, Beijing and the Vatican have not maintained diplomatic relations, following Mao Zedong's ban on the Catholic Church and the establishment of the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association in its stead. In 2018, a temporary agreement regarding the appointment of bishops was signed, which has been extended three times to improve bilateral relations.
