(Rome – September 22, 2025) The latest interview with Crux marks the first time the new pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, spoke publicly on China and offered insights into how he intends to approach this complex issue. Although he stated that in the short term he will continue the policy of his predecessors toward China, his cautious yet open attitude revealed in his words suggests the possibility of subtle shifts in the future.

The interview appears in senior correspondent Elise Allen’s new book, Leo XIV: Citizen of the World, Missionary of the XXI Century. The pope admitted he has not yet developed a clear strategy towards China. When asked whether he has a clear approach to engagement with China, his answer was an unequivocal “no.” Humbly adding that he does not consider himself wiser than his predecessors, he emphasized that for now he will continue along the Vatican’s long-standing path of Ostpolitik, which he described as “choices that have been made to say in a realistic way” focused on “this is what we can do right now, moving towards the future.”

However, the pope went further, revealing that he is in dialogue with “a number of people, Chinese” to get a “clearer understanding of how the Church can continue the Church’s mission.” He stressed that this mission must respect “both culture and political issues that have obviously great importance,” while also respecting “a significant group of Chinese Catholics who for many years have lived some kind of oppression or difficulty in living their faith freely and without choosing sides.

The Difficult Situation of Chinese Catholics

These words of the pope undoubtedly send an important signal to China’s long-persecuted underground Catholics. It is estimated that of the one hundred bishops in China, around twenty are still unable to receive recognition from the government. Many priests have faced pressure for refusing to sign statements supporting the religious policy of the government, which requires the Chinese Church to be “independent” from the Vatican.

In recent years, as the campaign for the “Sinicization of Catholicism” has advanced, state control over religious and cultural life has increasingly intensified. Many Catholic communities have been forced underground, holding Mass secretly in private locations to avoid the authorities’ surveillance. Even those within the state-recognized “open” communities face strict limitations on their religious practice.

The recent establishment of a new diocese in Zhangjiakou, Hebei, highlighted the complexity of this issue. The government unified several historic dioceses led by underground bishops, aiming to tighten control over the Church. This move left many Catholics shocked and saddened, as it altered the traditional structure of the Church and seemed to erase or even “humiliate” the legacy of bishops and priests who had suffered greatly for their faith.

Listening to More Voices, Keeping Options Open

Pope Leo XIV clearly recognizes that the situation of Catholics in China is far from “normalized.” He noted that he will draw on his previous experience of dealing with the Chinese people, including trips to China as the Superior General of the Augustinians.

In the interview, he pledged to uphold the 2018 Vatican–Beijing agreement on the appointment of bishops, which remains in force until 2028. This indicates he is not inclined to take drastic action at this time. At the same time, however, he underlined his intention to “reserve the right” to make different decisions in the future, revealing that he has already begun discussions “at all levels” on the matter.

His careful words suggest he is seeking to balance the preservation of existing diplomatic gains with genuine concern for persecuted believers. His core message is that he will listen to a broader range of voices, especially those of the long-neglected underground communities. This suggests that the Vatican’s China policy may shift beyond top-level dialogue to also pay greater attention to the genuine plight of grassroots churches.

The pope’s words are far from superficial. They are sending an important signal: the problems facing the Church in China are far more complex and painful than official narratives suggest, and the pope is preparing to confront this reality.

Special Correspondent Gao Zhensai for ChinaAid based on reporting from AsiaNews