Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged Pope Leo XIV to immediately re-evaluate the Vatican’s 2018 deal with the Chinese government. This agreement allows Beijing to control who becomes Catholic bishops in China.
HRW Raises Concerns About State Control
In a statement released on Monday, HRW expressed serious concern about the arrangement. They said it gives the Chinese Communist Party too much power over religious matters.
“The new Pope, Leo XIV, should direct an urgent review of the Vatican’s 2018 agreement with the Chinese government that allows Beijing to appoint bishops for government-approved houses of worship. He should also press the government to end the persecution of underground churches, clergy, and worshipers,” the group stated.
Moreover, HRW pointed out that China continues to appoint bishops without the Vatican’s involvement. For example, during the mourning period for Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025, China appointed new bishops in Shanghai and Xinxiang, Henan province. This was reported by AsiaNews.
HRW Calls for Fresh Talks
Furthermore, HRW called on Pope Leo XIV to start new discussions with China. Maya Wang, HRW’s associate China director, said these talks could help protect religious freedom.
“Pope Leo XIV has an opportunity to make a fresh start with China to protect the religious freedom of China’s Catholics. The new Pope should press for negotiations that could help improve the right to religious practice for everyone in China,” Wang said.
She added that underground churchgoers are the very people the Pope promised to support.
“Chinese Catholics worshiping in underground churches are among the ‘ordinary people’ on whom Pope Leo has said the church should focus its attention. It’s critical for religious freedom in China that the Catholic church stands on their side, and not on the side of their oppressors,” she explained.
HRW Demands Release of Clergy
In addition, HRW urged the Pope to ask China to free several detained Catholic leaders. These include James Su Zhimin, Augustine Cui Tai, Julius Jia Zhiguo, Joseph Zhang Weizhu, Peter Shao Zhumin, and Thaddeus Ma Daqin. According to HRW, Chinese officials have imprisoned or harassed them in recent years.
China’s Control Over Catholic Churches
For decades, the Chinese government has tightly controlled the practice of Catholicism. Around 12 million Catholics in China are only allowed to worship in churches approved by the state. These churches are run by the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association.
Meanwhile, those who stay loyal to the Pope and attend underground churches often face police raids, arrests, or house arrests.
The Vatican and China signed the 2018 agreement to settle a long conflict over bishop appointments. Under this deal, China suggests names for bishops, and the Pope has the power to veto them. However, the full text of the deal has never been published.
Vatican Avoided Conflict Despite Violations
Since the agreement, both sides have approved ten bishops. This covers only one-third of China’s 90 dioceses. Still, the Vatican has never used its veto right. Notably, in 2022 and 2023, China broke the agreement by appointing bishops without Vatican approval. Even so, Pope Francis accepted those appointments, HRW said.
Religious Control Part of China’s Broader Strategy
This deal came during President Xi Jinping’s campaign to increase control over all religions in China. The campaign, called “Sinicization,” aims to make religions follow Communist Party values.
As a result, Chinese officials have taken down hundreds of church buildings or crosses. They have also blocked access to Bibles, banned religious apps, and shut down unofficial churches.
Tibet Also Faces Religious Repression
Lastly, HRW mentioned that China’s religious control extends to Tibet. Authorities there have harshly restricted Buddhism. They took away the six-year-old Panchen Lama in 1995 and still control the process of choosing the next Dalai Lama.
