Sarah Mitchell
Catholicism in China has a long and complex history, with the religion first entering the country during the Tang dynasty. While it had few native Chinese followers until the Ming dynasty in the 16th century, the number of Catholics in China grew to 300,000 within 60 years after the death of Ricci, a Jesuit missionary. Today, the Catholic Church in China is a small but influential community, with efforts underway by both the Vatican and Beijing to improve relations and work together to ordain bishops within the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Chinese Catholics after World War II | 4 million |
| Percentage of Chinese Catholics after World War II | Less than 1% |
| Number of Chinese Catholics in the 17th century | 300,000 |
| Number of government-appointed bishops | 8 |
| Number of Vatican-approved bishops | 30 |
| Number of bishops recognized by neither side | At least 1 |
| Number of unofficial Catholic churches in rural Zhengding County | At least 1 |
| Number of parishioners in rural Zhengding County | 1,000 |
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What You'll Learn
Catholic Church in China is a 'tiny community'
The Catholic Church in China is a small community relative to China's overall population. The history of the Catholic Church in China is long and complex, with the Church first entering the country during the cosmopolitan Tang dynasty. However, it wasn't until the 16th century, during the Ming dynasty, that the Church began to gain a significant number of native Chinese followers. After World War II, there were about four million Catholics in China, which was less than one percent of the population at the time.
The Catholic Church in China has faced challenges due to the government's fear of foreign control of religious practices within its borders. This has resulted in a fundamental disagreement between the Vatican and Beijing over who has the authority to choose clergy in the country. Beijing has traditionally held the power to choose bishops, which the Vatican does not recognize. As a result, there are bishops appointed by the government-run Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association that are not recognized by the Vatican, and vice versa. This has led to the emergence of unofficial or underground houses of worship, where parishioners attend both official and unofficial churches.
Despite these challenges, there is a desire on both sides to improve relations and work together. China wants to enhance its international reputation, and the Vatican is interested in helping Catholics in China be part of a legitimate church structure that the Chinese government is comfortable with. These efforts may lead to increased cooperation between the Holy See and Beijing in ordaining bishops within China.
The Catholic Church in China, while small, has a rich history and continues to play an important role in the religious landscape of the country. It remains to be seen whether the Vatican and Beijing can come to an agreement that satisfies both sides and provides a stable structure for the Catholic community in China.
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Chinese customs permitted by Catholic Church
The Catholic Church in China has had a long and complex history, dating back to the arrival of the Church of the East during the Tang dynasty. Over the centuries, the interaction between the Catholic Church and Chinese culture has evolved, with periods of cooperation and conflict.
In the 17th century, the Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci adopted a cultural approach, accommodating Confucianism and Chinese customs into his missionary work. However, this approach was not universally accepted within the Catholic Church, and the Rites Controversy ensued, with some missionaries and the Vatican considering these practices superstitious and incompatible with Catholic doctrine.
A turning point came in 1939, when Pope Pius XII issued a decree permitting Chinese Catholics to observe certain ancestral rites and participate in Confucius-honouring ceremonies. This decree, known as Plane Compertum, recognised that some Chinese customs, while having pagan origins, had evolved over time to retain only civil significance, reflecting piety towards ancestors, love of the fatherland, or courtesy towards neighbours. This decree substantially changed the ecclesiastical situation in China, leading to the flourishing of the Catholic Church in the country.
Following this decree, Chinese customs that were not contradictory to Roman Catholicism were allowed. This included the veneration of ancestors and Confucius, which were seen as respectful but non-religious rituals compatible with Christian doctrine. The Jesuit order, with their knowledge of astronomy and mechanics, successfully penetrated China and served at the Imperial court.
However, the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Chinese state has remained complex. Since the Communist era, the Catholic Church in China has been organised into two communities: the "Patriotic" Church, which operates with the approval of Chinese authorities, and the "Underground" Church, which professes loyalty to the Pope. Catholics in China have faced political repression, with unregistered clergy and bishops facing harassment and imprisonment due to their allegiance to the Holy See.
In conclusion, while the Catholic Church in China has permitted certain Chinese customs that are not contradictory to its doctrine, the relationship between the Church and the Chinese state has been characterised by both cooperation and conflict, with Catholics in China continuing to face challenges in practising their faith.
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Catholic missionaries and scholars
The Catholic Church first entered China during the Tang dynasty, though it had few native Chinese followers until the Ming dynasty in the 16th century. The earliest Christian missionaries from the Church of the East referred to their religion as Jǐngjiào, meaning "bright teaching".
The first attempt by the Jesuits to reach China was made in 1552 by St Francis Xavier, a Navarrese priest and missionary. Xavier never reached the mainland, dying on the Chinese island of Shangchuan after only a year. Jesuit missionaries did eventually arrive in China in 1582, led by figures including the Italian Matteo Ricci. They introduced Western science, mathematics, astronomy, and visual arts to the Chinese imperial court, and engaged in significant intercultural and philosophical dialogue with Chinese scholars, particularly with representatives of Confucianism. Ricci's approach to missionary work respected Chinese culture, deeming certain Confucian and folk practices to be civil rather than religious in nature and therefore not inconsistent with Catholic practice. This approach was later rejected by the Vatican, which ordered the Jesuits to abandon it.
Ricci died in 1610, but the Jesuit mission continued to play an important role in the imperial civil service into the 18th century. In 1644, a German Jesuit, Adam Schall von Bell, was appointed Director of the Board of Astronomy by the new Qing dynasty. Jesuits were also given posts as mechanics, musicians, painters, instrument makers, and in other areas that required technical expertise. Within 60 years after Ricci's death, the number of Catholics in China had grown to 300,000.
Other notable Catholic missionaries to China include the Italian Franciscan priest John of Montecorvino, who arrived in Khanbaliq (modern-day Beijing) in 1294 and built two churches there. He translated the New Testament and the Psalms into the local language, and by 1300 had an estimated 6,000 to 30,000 converts. In 1307, Pope Clement V sent seven Franciscan bishops to consecrate John of Montecorvino as Archbishop of Peking.
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Catholics and state-approved churches
The Catholic Church in China is divided into two branches: the official church and the underground church. The official church, also known as the "Patriotic" Church, is state-approved and controlled by the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA). The CCPA is loyal to the Chinese government and falls under the National Religious Affairs Administration, formerly known as the State Administration for Religious Affairs. Government figures estimate that there are around 6 million members of the state-approved Catholic Church, comprising less than 0.5% to 0.69% of China's population. However, these figures only include adult baptized members and do not take into account unregistered Christian groups or children under 18.
The underground church, on the other hand, rejects the state's authority to select bishops and maintains loyalty to the Vatican. Members of the underground church have faced harassment and imprisonment from the authorities. Pope Benedict XVI, in an open letter to Chinese Catholics in 2007, stated that there is no schism between the two branches and that the Catholic Church recognizes the legitimacy of civil authorities in secular matters while affirming the Pope's authority in ecclesial matters.
The division between the official and underground churches dates back to the 1950s when the Chinese government purged foreign influence and expelled missionaries, urging Catholic churches to cut ties with the Vatican. Many Catholics who chose to remain loyal to the Vatican practiced their faith clandestinely. In 2018, the Vatican signed an agreement with China, allowing the Chinese government to appoint bishops while granting the Pope veto power. This agreement has led to a recalibration of the relationship between the Vatican and China, with efforts to bring more Catholic churches into the CCPA.
The Catholic Church first entered China during the Tang dynasty but had few native Chinese followers until the 16th century during the Ming dynasty. In the 19th century, Protestant missions gained a foothold in China, and by 1949, there were an estimated 3 million Catholics and 1 million Protestants in the country. After World War II, about 4 million Chinese were members of the Catholic Church, comprising less than 1% of the population. However, the number of Catholics increased dramatically, and by the Qing dynasty, there were an estimated 300,000 Catholics in China.
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Beijing-Vatican ties
The Catholic Church first entered China during the cosmopolitan Tang dynasty, though it had few native Chinese followers until the 16th century Ming dynasty. After World War II, about four million Chinese were members of the Catholic Church, less than one percent of the population.
Despite the 2018 agreement, China has been accused of repeatedly violating its terms. The Vatican's top diplomat, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, has expressed the Vatican's desire to open an office in Beijing, and China has indicated its willingness to work with the Vatican to improve relations. However, Taiwan has expressed concern over the potential for upgraded relations between Beijing and the Vatican, as China claims Taiwan as one of its provinces, a position rejected by the Taipei government.
The appointment of bishops remains a significant issue in China-Vatican relations, with the Vatican considering it the most important issue in the bilateral relationship. The Chinese government maintains that bishops in China should be elected by Chinese Catholics through the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, which is part of the United Front system and allows the Communist Party to maintain control over the appointment of bishops. The 2018 agreement allowed the Pope to veto bishops approved by the CCP, and Pope Francis approved seven bishops appointed by Beijing. However, the Vatican accused China of violating this agreement by appointing a diocese not recognised by the Holy See.
The late Pope Francis attempted to repair the relationship by increasing engagement with Beijing, though critics questioned his diplomatic attempts. Nevertheless, experts argue that the Vatican should still pursue good ties with China to collaborate on solving global issues such as hunger and poverty.
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Frequently asked questions
The percentage of Catholics in China is unclear. Official statistics state that there are eight government-approved bishops in China, appointed by the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association. However, the Vatican does not recognize them. There are also 30 Vatican-approved bishops whom the Chinese government does not recognize. China's Catholic community is small but influential, and the country is working towards improving its relationship with the Vatican.
The Catholic Church first entered China during the Tang dynasty, although it had few native Chinese followers until the Ming dynasty in the 16th century. After World War II, about four million Chinese were members of the Catholic Church, constituting less than one percent of the population. Within 60 years after the death of the Jesuit Matteo Ricci in 1610, the number of Catholics in China grew to 300,000.
The fundamental disagreement between the Vatican and Beijing is about who has the authority to choose the clergy in China. Beijing has historically had the final say, which has created a complex dynamic with the Vatican, as the government struggles to understand the rules of the Catholic Church. This has resulted in a small number of bishops, like Dong Guanhua, who are not recognized by either side. Additionally, Catholics in China must navigate between attending official, state-approved Catholic churches and unofficial or underground houses of worship.
