On 15 October, Father Ignatius Ding Zuyao, of the state-administered Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA), was consecrated Bishop of Haimen in eastern China following his appointment by Pope Leo XIV on 24 August under the provisional agreement signed by the Vatican and the People’s Republic of China in 2018. The agreement’s contents remain undisclosed. The episcopal consecration highlights the continuing debate over the accord, which, as far as can be ascertained, was intended to resolve disputes over episcopal appointments and promote unity among Chinese Catholics. Yet questions remain about its implications for members of the ‘underground Church’—those who refuse to submit to the CCPA and follow the guidelines set out by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Under Article 3 of its General Provisions, the CCPA’s purpose is to unite Catholic clergy and laity under the leadership of the CCP, support the socialist system, and study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
For many Chinese Catholics, however, the central question remains unresolved: What becomes of those who refuse to submit to a state-controlled ecclesiastical structure? Founded in 1957, the CCPA operates under government oversight, a longstanding source of concern for Catholics who insist that communion with Rome must remain free from political interference. While the Holy See maintains that engagement with Beijing can promote ecclesial unity, critics argue that the agreement has done little to reassure members of the ‘underground Church’ who continue to face pressure for remaining faithful to Rome.
The anxiety felt by many members of the ‘underground Church’ is not without historical precedent. Throughout China’s history, Christians have often paid a heavy price for their loyalty to Christ and His Church.
Among those who suffered was St. Francisco Fernández de Capillas, a Dominican missionary usually regarded as the first martyr in China, who was beheaded in 1648. During the Boxer Rebellion (1899–1901), approximately 30,000 Chinese Catholics were put to death for embracing Catholicism (Orthodox Christians and Protestants were killed), together with several hundred missionaries and their families. The witness of these martyrs did not end with their deaths. In the 20th century, new forms of persecution would test the fidelity of Chinese Catholics under Communist rule.
One of the most inspiring figures in the history of the Chinese ‘underground Church’ is Cardinal Ignatius Kung Pin-Mei, Bishop of Shanghai, who resisted the Communist Party’s efforts to control the Catholic Church. Consecrated a bishop in 1950, Kung spent approximately 30 years in prison for his allegiance to Rome.
I vividly recall meeting Cardinal Kung during my seminary years when he celebrated Mass in Latin, seated in a wheelchair and chanting the Mass parts texts with remarkable clarity and devotion—an inspirational example of his love for the Church and his brethren.
It was said that, during his imprisonment, Kung could have secured his release had he agreed to sing the national anthem of the People’s Republic of China. Instead, he proclaimed Christ’s words to Peter:
‘Tu es Petrus et super hanc petram aedificabo ecclesiam meam.’ (‘You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.’) (Matthew 16:18)
The story captures the defining principle of his life: political power could imprison his body, but it could not compel him to renounce his allegiance to the Church. Released and eventually exiled, Kung was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope St. John Paul II in 1988.
‘Political power could imprison his body, but it could not compel him to renounce his allegiance to the Church’
His testimony also raises enduring questions about how Catholics in China can preserve their fidelity to the Church while living under a communist regime that seeks ultimate control over religious life. His witness deserves renewed attention, particularly as Catholics continue to debate the implications of the agreement with Beijing.
The Holy See must also consider the message its policies convey to Catholics living under authoritarian governments. When believers are imprisoned, monitored, and pressured to compromise their convictions, they need more than diplomatic assurances. They need to know that the universal Church recognizes their suffering and stands with them. True ecclesial unity cannot be measured solely by administrative agreements or the regularization of episcopal appointments. It must also be reflected in respect for freedom of conscience, the protection of freedom of worship, and the courage to defend those whose fidelity puts them at risk.
The witness of Catholics who suffer for their conscience and faith did not end with Cardinal Kung. That same courage endures in Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and devout Catholic who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in February 2026. His children, Sebastien and Claire Lai, have called for his release, drawing renewed international attention to his imprisonment.
Yet there are so many Catholics whose stories of imprisonment and torture for refusing to compromise their faith we probably shall never know. Their sacrifices may never make international headlines, but their fidelity is no less significant.
Many of us feel not only comforted but also encouraged to continue living our Catholic faith when someone tells us: ‘I’m praying for you.’ Those simple words can help us persevere and grow in grace. Equally uplifting is Pope St. John Paul II’s exhortation: ‘Do not be afraid.’
It would mean a great deal if Pope Leo XIV offered a similar public assurance to Catholics in China who continue to face pressure for their fidelity to Rome. Such words would not resolve every difficulty, but they would remind the faithful that their shepherd has not forgotten them.
Let us pray that these courageous Catholics of China’s ‘underground Church’ will receive the recognition they deserve and that those who continue to suffer will hear, from the successor of St. Peter, the words that have sustained generations of Christians: ‘Do not be afraid.’
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