Sarah Mitchell
China has a complicated relationship with the Catholic Church. Since the Communist Party came to power in 1949, China has had no official diplomatic relations with the Vatican. The country has more than 100 dioceses, but it does not have a Vatican-recognized bishops' conference or an official Catholic directory. There is a split between the “unregistered” Catholic community and the government-approved “open” Catholic community, with the former following the Church hierarchy before 1949, and the latter reorganizing individual dioceses without distinguishing archdioceses. This has made the hierarchical issues more complicated, and the Vatican does not recognize some of the newly created dioceses. In recent years, the government has tightened control over Christian activities, banned unauthorized evangelization online, and intensified its crackdown on underground Catholic churches. Despite these challenges, the Catholic Church in China is a growing minority religion, with estimates of the Catholic population ranging from 6 million to 12 million, including unregistered Catholics.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholics in China | 12 million |
| Percentage of Catholics in China | Less than 1% |
| Number of Catholics in Hebei Province | 1 million |
| Percentage of Chinese adults who believe in Jesus Christ and/or Tianzhu | 3% |
| Percentage of Chinese adults who have some degree of connection to Christianity | 8% |
| Number of bishops appointed by the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association | 8 |
| Number of Vatican-approved bishops | 30 |
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What You'll Learn
Less than 1% of China's population is Catholic
The Catholic Church has a long and complex history in China, dating back to the arrival of Catholic missionaries during the Tang dynasty. While the Church initially faced challenges due to conflicts with the government and traditional Chinese rituals, it has nonetheless persisted in the country. Today, however, the number of Catholics in China remains relatively small, with estimates placing the figure at around 12 million, or less than 1% of the country's total population.
Historically, the Catholic Church in China has been divided into two branches: the official church and underground churches. The official church refers to churches that have joined the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CPCA), which is controlled by the government and does not recognize the authority of the Holy See. On the other hand, underground churches are those that operate covertly, often out of loyalty to the Vatican. This division dates back to the 1950s when the government expelled missionaries and urged Catholic churches to cut ties with the Vatican.
Despite the small number of Catholics in China, there have been efforts in recent years to improve relations between the Vatican and the Chinese government. After becoming head of the Holy See in 2013, Pope Francis expressed interest in visiting China and has actively worked to settle differences. While there remain disagreements, particularly regarding the appointment of bishops, there is a mutual desire to come to an agreement.
It is worth noting that the number of Christians in China, including Catholics, can be difficult to estimate accurately. Some surveys suggest that a broader measure of Christian affinity, including those who believe in the Christian God or attend worship services, may yield a higher percentage of the population. Additionally, the geographic concentration of Christians in certain areas, such as rural "Catholic villages," can impact survey estimates.
In conclusion, while the Catholic Church has a presence in China, it represents a small minority of the country's religious landscape. The complex relationship between the Vatican and the Chinese government, as well as the historical context, have influenced the development of Catholicism in China, resulting in a unique situation where less than 1% of the population identifies as Catholic.
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Catholics in China worship in underground churches
China has a complex relationship with Catholicism. When the country became communist in 1949, the new government began exerting pressure on the Catholic Church. This culminated in the expulsion of the papal nuncio, Archbishop Riberi, from China in 1951. The government then formed the Three Autonomies Movement, which encouraged clergy to abandon the Holy See. As a result, many Chinese and foreign bishops, priests, and laypersons were arrested, and some even died in jail.
The Catholic Church in China is thus divided into two: the government-established Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA), and the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) or the "'underground church', which remains loyal to the Pope and is therefore outlawed by the Chinese government. The CCPA is the only branch of the Catholic Church that is officially recognized by the Chinese government, and it does not recognize the Pope's authority over the Catholic Church in China. The CCPA appoints and ordains its bishops independently, often without the Pope's permission.
The "underground church" came into existence in the 1950s after the Chinese Communist Party's proclamation of the People's Republic of China and the severing of ties between Chinese Catholics and the Holy See. The term "underground church" does not mean that these churches are secret, but rather that they lack official approval and support from the Chinese government. These churches are also referred to as "loyal churches," and they often operate openly. However, local authorities closely monitor their activities and pressure priests and bishops to join the CCPA.
It is difficult to estimate the exact number of Catholics in China, but figures typically range between 10 and 12 million. A broader survey in 2023 found that as many as 8% of Chinese adults have some degree of connection to Christianity, which includes those who formally identify as Christian, believe in the Christian God, or report a type of worship attendance common to Christians. This would amount to roughly 81 million adults.
Despite the historical division between the two branches of the Catholic Church in China, efforts have been made to resolve the conflict. In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI wrote an open letter to all Chinese Catholics, stating that there is only one Catholic Church in China and that there is no schism between the "Patriotic" Church and the "Underground" Church. Additionally, in September 2018, a provisional agreement was signed regarding the appointment of bishops, addressing the longstanding issue of conflicting appointments by the Vatican and the Chinese government.
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The Chinese government expelled Catholic missionaries in 1949
Christianity has been present in China since the early medieval period, with the Church of the East arriving in the 7th century during the Tang dynasty. Catholicism was patronized by the emperors of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty in the 13th century, but it did not take root in China until its reintroduction by the Jesuits in the 16th century.
In the early 19th century, Protestant missions in China attracted small but influential followings, and independent Chinese churches were also established. By 1900, there were an estimated 100,000 Protestants in China, a number that increased to 700,000 by 1950. During this period, women missionaries played a significant role in introducing Protestant middle-class culture and values to China, including campaigns against opium and foot binding.
Catholic missionaries, who had been banned for a time, returned in the 19th century. By 1949, there were about 3 million Catholics in China, less than 1% of the population. However, following the victory of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the Chinese Civil War that year, Catholic and Protestant missionaries were expelled from the country. The Communist forces captured the Nationalist capital, Nanjing, and the Nationalist government retreated to Guangzhou. The papal ambassador, however, remained in Nanjing.
The expulsion of missionaries in 1949 was not an isolated incident but part of a long history of tension between the Catholic Church and the Chinese government. In the 17th and 18th centuries, a dispute known as the Rites controversy led to the expulsion of missionaries from most of China. The dispute centred around the Catholic Church's reluctance to recognize Confucian rituals for honouring deceased family members, which conflicted with Catholic dogma. Despite the ban, Catholic missionaries continued their work in China, and by the 1930s, the Catholic Church revisited its stance, permitting some forms of Chinese customs.
After the Communist victory in 1949, the Chinese government established the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA) in Beijing in 1957, which rejects the authority of the Holy See. This division between the official church and underground churches loyal to the Vatican continues to the present day.
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There are 12 million Catholics in China
The small Catholic population in China has been affected by the country's historical tensions with the Vatican. In 1949, after the Communists took over, Catholic missionaries were expelled. The Chinese government established the CPA in 1957, which appoints its own bishops and rejects the authority of the Holy See. The Vatican, in turn, does not recognize the CPA-appointed bishops.
Despite these challenges, there are still Catholic institutions in China, particularly in the northern and central regions. Hebei Province had the largest Catholic population in 2017, with 1 million members. Shanghai's St. Peter's Church, one of the few officially approved churches in the country, serves a small but loyal congregation. The Catholic Church is allowed to operate freely in Macau and Hong Kong, and several prominent figures in Hong Kong, including the current chief executive, are Catholic.
While the size of China's Christian population appears to have levelled off, some scholars and journalists argue that Christianity in China continues to grow rapidly in the 21st century. They predict that Christians will become a majority in China by 2050.
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The Catholic Church is dominant in the North and Central regions of China
The Catholic Church in China is made up of two branches: the official church and the underground church. The official church is affiliated with the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA), which is controlled by the National Religious Affairs Administration. The underground church, on the other hand, is comprised of Catholics who do not belong to the CCPA and remain faithful to the Vatican. These underground churches are not registered with the state-sanctioned Catholic associations and are monitored by local authorities.
The Catholic Church first appeared in China during the Yuan dynasty with the arrival of John of Montecorvino, a Franciscan priest who became the first Catholic missionary and bishop in the country. Catholicism was patronized by the emperors of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty and was later reintroduced by Jesuits during the 16th century. However, in 1721, the Qing emperor Kangxi forbade the preaching of Catholicism due to conflicts with papal leadership over the acceptance of traditional Chinese rituals among Catholic converts. This led to the deportation of most Catholic missionaries and the condemnation of Catholicism as heterodox.
Despite these historical setbacks, the Catholic Church has established a presence in the North and Central regions of China. In the northern province of Hebei, for example, roughly a quarter of China's Catholics reside in rural "Catholic villages," where the majority of residents follow Catholicism. The dominance of Catholic villages in Hebei is indicative of the regional variations in Catholic populations within China.
The central-northern region of the North China Plain is also notable for its religious practices. While Taoism dominates the southeastern coast, the folk religion of central-northern China is focused on the communal worship of tutelary deities of creation and nature. This region is characterized by villages populated by families of different surnames, structured into "communities of the god(s)" (shénshè or huì), which organize temple ceremonies, processions, and pilgrimages.
While there are no recent surveys on the religious landscape of China immediately following the Cultural Revolution, government figures from 1982 to 1997 suggest a significant increase in Christians worshipping in registered churches, including Catholics. The growth of Christianity in China has continued into the 21st century, with estimates ranging from 67 million to 81 million Christians in the country. However, it is challenging to accurately count Christians in China due to the presence of unregistered churches and the potential underreporting of religious affiliation.
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Frequently asked questions
Less than 1% of China's population are Catholic, with estimates of the number of Catholics in China ranging from 12 million to 40 million.
The Chinese government banned religion during the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and ’70s. Although restrictions were lifted in the 1980s and ’90s, the government remains wary of underground Catholic churches and only allows churches authorized by the state to operate. This means that many Catholics worship in unauthorized venues, making it difficult to track the number of Catholics in the country.
Underground churches are unofficial houses of worship that are not registered with the state-sanctioned Catholic Patriotic Association. Local authorities closely monitor these churches and pressure priests and bishops to join the CPA.
The CPA is a government-run organization that appoints its own bishops and rejects the authority of the Holy See. The Vatican does not recognize these bishops.
