• Pope Leo XIV emphasizes the need for prayers for Chinese Catholics to achieve communion with the Vatican.
• The 2018 deal between the Holy See and Beijing remains a contentious issue under Leo's papacy.
• Leo acknowledges the division between China's state-controlled church and the underground church loyal to Rome.

Pope Leo XIV has made his first public remarks regarding sensitive relations between the Vatican and China, calling for prayers that Chinese Catholics may achieve communion with the Holy See. He highlighted the importance of this issue during a blessing from the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, coinciding with the World Day of Prayer for the Church in China, observed on May 24. Leo remarked that “in 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,” according to latimes, scmp, and aljazeera.

Historically, the division within the Catholic community in China has been considerable, with an estimated 12 million Catholics either aligned with a state-controlled church that does not recognize papal authority or an underground church loyal to the Vatican. Leo's remarks follow the legacy of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, who instituted the feast day as part of efforts to unify these factions, aiming to bolster the community amidst ongoing persecution, as stated in latimes, scmp, and aljazeera.

A critical challenge for Pope Leo is the renewal of a controversial 2018 agreement with Beijing concerning the appointment of bishops, which has been met with criticism, particularly from the Catholic right. The deal allows the state-controlled church a role in the nomination process while claiming that the pope retains veto power. Critics argue that this acquiescence to Beijing undermines the underground faithful, leading to ongoing tensions within the Church, as noted by latimes, scmp, and aljazeera.

With rising concerns over apparent violations of the agreement—such as recent unilateral bishop appointments without papal consent—Leo is under pressure to address balancing Church unity with political realities. Just before his election, the situation escalated as the Chinese church conducted preliminary elections for two bishops, a significant step prior to their official consecration, reflecting ongoing tensions, according to latimes, scmp, and aljazeera.