China has extended formal congratulations to Pope Leo XIV on his election as the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, expressing optimism for a gradual strengthening of diplomatic ties with the Vatican.
Speaking at a press briefing in Beijing on Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian welcomed the new papacy and voiced hope for a “steady and positive” progression in Sino-Vatican relations.
Though diplomatic ties between the Holy See and Beijing remain complex, recent years have seen cautious efforts from both sides to bridge long-standing divides—particularly regarding the appointment of bishops and religious freedoms within China.
The China Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lin Jian stated this while speaking with reporters in the Chinese capital.
According to Lin, he hopes that under the new Pope’s leadership, the Vatican will continue dialogue with China in a constructive spirit, deepen communication on international issues of mutual concern.
China has expressed optimism about deepening its relationship with the Vatican following the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
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At a press briefing in Beijing on Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian extended China’s congratulations to Pope Leo XIV and voiced hope for closer collaboration with the Holy See. Lin emphasized the potential for both parties to work jointly toward “the steady advancement of China-Vatican relations,” while also contributing to broader global objectives such as peace, stability, development, and prosperity.
The Vatican formally announced on Tuesday that Cardinal Robert Prevost, an American of the Order of St. Augustine, had been elected as the 267th pontiff, assuming the papal name Leo XIV.
The diplomatic gesture from Beijing comes amid ongoing efforts to stabilize and expand a fragile relationship between the two states. In 2024, China and the Vatican renewed a provisional agreement for four more years, granting both parties shared input in the appointment of bishops for China’s Catholic population—estimated at approximately 12 million.
The agreement, originally signed in 2018, marked a tentative step toward resolving one of the longest-standing points of contention between the two entities: religious authority within China’s borders.