Milan (AsiaNews) – In China, Catholics have reacted to Pope Francis’s death with prayers and strong emotions, but Chinese authorities and state-controlled Catholic organisations have not yet issued any statement.
In China, as in the rest of the world, reports of the pontiff's death became trending news within minutes, starting in the early afternoon, local time.
Xinde, the site most followed by local Catholics, immediately posted a Chinese translation of the statement made Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Farrell, inviting the faithful to pray.
Yet by evening, nothing was posted about the pope’s death on China Catholic, the website of the Patriotic Association, or on any diocesan website, like that of the Diocese of Shanghai, headed by Archbishop Joseph Shen Bin, the most authoritative face of the Church in mainland China today.
The impression is that, despite the unique contribution made in recent years by Pope Francis to dialogue with Beijing, with the readmission of all bishops into full communion with Rome, the Communist Party of China must first dictate the official reaction, which is likely to come in the next few hours.
It will be interesting to see in what form. But for now, all we have is China’s semi-official English-language newspaper, Global Times, which picked up stories from international agencies on the pontiff’s death, focusing on the 2018 agreement with the People's Republic of China on episcopal appointment.
The paper quoted the message Pope Francis sent to Chinese President Xi Jinping in August 2023 when he flew over China during his apostolic journey to Mongolia.
“When asked to comment on Pope's message, then Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said China noted the reports,” writes the Global Times. “The greetings from the Vatican embody friendship and goodwill. China and the Vatican have maintained communication in recent years. China would like to continue the constructive dialogue with the Vatican, enhance understanding, build up mutual trust and advance the process of improving the relations between the two sides.”
The article, however, does not mention the historic interview Pope Francis gave in 2016 to the Hong Kong-based Asia Times news digital platform.
In Hong Kong, Bishop Stephen Chow, elevated to the cardinalate by Francis himself in 2023, expressed the diocese’s condolences, inviting the faithful to pray.
“During his pontificate, Pope Francis visited Mongolia in September 2023, his visit has also brought attention to the relations between the Vatican and China,” writes the diocesan weekly Sunday Examiner.
The website of the Diocese of Macau also features a large photo of Pope Francis listed in mourning, linked to the Vatican video announcing the pontiff's death.
