French Media Reveals China Using Vatican-China Agreement to Coerce Catholic Underground Church
French media reports that China is using its 2018 provisional agreement with the Vatican to force the Catholic underground church to comply with its "Sinicization" policy. Clergy face difficult choices between loyalty and party demands, with those resisting facing persecution. This move creates deep divisions within the faith community.
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- 📰 Published: May 2, 2026 at 22:45
- 🔍 Collected: May 2, 2026 at 23:01 (16 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 2, 2026 at 23:04 (2 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Paris, May 2, Exclusive Report by Tseng Yi-Hsuan) The French newspaper Le Figaro published an investigative report describing how Chinese Catholic clergy are forced to make increasingly difficult choices between loyalty to their faith and obedience to the Chinese Communist Party, enduring the oppression of the "Sinicization" policy for religions.
The report depicts Catholics following the Stations of the Cross to Sheshan Basilica near Shanghai, under surveillance along the way. A priest from Paris stated: "There used to be a saying that summarized the CCP's attitude: one eye open, one eye closed. As long as you didn't cross certain red lines, they wouldn't interfere."
But times have changed, and now the CCP has both eyes wide open. All interviewees requested anonymity, most of whom are overseas, are "underground church" priests on the CCP's blacklist, and may never be able to return to China.
The underground church refers to groups relative to the "official" Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association or the Protestant "Three-Self Church."
The report points out that in China, many believers and clergy still remain loyal to the Vatican and are unwilling to accept CCP supervision. At the same time, the Chinese authorities are intensifying their suppression and control, urging priests to handle civil registration equivalent to moving from hidden to open, requiring them to sign documents promising to abide by the principles of independence, autonomy, and self-management of the Chinese church, as well as the leadership of the CCP.
For many, deciding whether to sign this document is an extremely painful choice.
In 2018, during the papacy of Pope Francis, the Vatican and China signed a provisional agreement, the detailed content of which has not yet been published. This agreement was extended for another four years in 2024. Although it does not explicitly stipulate that believers must join patriotic organizations, it provides the Chinese authorities with a powerful tool to "normalize" clergy, while potentially harming the loyalty of believers and stifling the underground church network.
The organization "Aid to the Church in Need," which supports persecuted believers, reported that the CCP has long meticulously spread rumors, leading people to mistakenly believe that civil registration is one of the requirements of the agreement. A Chinese priest currently in France, who is unwelcome by the CCP, said: "Some underground church priests succumbed because of this."
He mentioned a 64-year-old clergyman who retired from military service and was imprisoned in a dark room for several months. He did not yield due to the harsh environment, but eventually, the Vatican-China agreement made him sign.
The report states that in the face of such suppression, the Vatican once sought compromise. In June 2019, the Vatican issued pastoral guidelines on the civil registration of Chinese clergy, stating that the "conscience" of clergy should be respected. If the declarations required by the documents do not respect the Catholic faith, clergy can state, verbally or in writing, that they are signing the documents without renouncing their loyalty to doctrine.
A French priest closely connected with the underground church believes that the Vatican's meaning was: "Catholics can sign the document, and if they are dissatisfied with some of the wording, they can express it when signing. If they don't express it and sign, it's also fine; if they really don't want to sign, God bless, we respect your choice. I thought at the time, this means it's okay to sign. Many underground clergy later signed because they had no other choice, they were operating outside the law, and the (Vatican-China) agreement suffocated them to some extent."
A Chinese priest admitted: "This is the government's strategy: make you think that since the Pope seems to agree, there's no need to resist anymore."
Some believe that civil registration is equivalent to capitulating after decades of resistance; others believe that signing the document is the price for "continuing to serve." This tense opposition tears apart the church community, with registered priests being questioned about betraying their faith; underground priests face the risk of their dioceses being suppressed.
A Chinese priest granted asylum in France recalled: "When the faithful learned that a priest who had resisted the CCP his entire life had signed the document, they cried all night, asking: How is this possible? He endured being detained twice, why did he give in?"
In 2025, China intensified its crackdown on unregistered Protestant and Catholic networks. Guillaume Guennec, director of the NGO "Open Doors," which defends persecuted believers, said: "The Chinese proverb says 'kill the chicken to scare the monkey.' Large-scale arrests send a strong signal to all believers, forcing them to join official organizations."
But the situation for official churches is not much better. Since the end of 2023, patriotic religious organizations have published new five-year plans to promote the "Sinicization" of religions, listing goals, annual tasks, and implementation plans; furthermore, according to the "Four Entrances" policy, religious sites must display national flags, constitutions and laws, socialist core values, and traditional Chinese culture.
The report also states that in December 2025, officials confiscated passports and travel permits to Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan from clergy. All overseas trips must be submitted in writing at least one month in advance, detailing itineraries and motives, and a report must be submitted within seven days of returning for control.
The report concludes by mentioning former Bishop Guo Xijin of the Mindong Diocese in China. In 2018, under the framework of the Vatican-China agreement, Pope Francis asked him to relinquish his "underground" bishop status and cede his position to "official" bishop Zhan Silu, who had previously been excommunicated. Guo Xijin was demoted to auxiliary bishop, but his ministry was obstructed by the CCP, and he was expelled from his residence, reportedly sleeping on the streets for a time. He finally resigned in 2020 and is reportedly under house arrest. (Edited by: Tang Sheng-yang) 1150502
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(Central News Agency, Paris, May 2, Exclusive Report by Tseng Yi-Hsuan) The French newspaper Le Figaro published an investigative report describing how Chinese Catholic clergy are forced to make increasingly difficult choices between loyalty to their faith and obedience to the Chinese Communist Party, enduring the oppression of the "Sinicization" policy for religions.
The report depicts Catholics following the Stations of the Cross to Sheshan Basilica near Shanghai, under surveillance along the way. A priest from Paris stated: "There used to be a saying that summarized the CCP's attitude: one eye open, one eye closed. As long as you didn't cross certain red lines, they wouldn't interfere."
But times have changed, and now the CCP has both eyes wide open. All interviewees requested anonymity, most of whom are overseas, are "underground church" priests on the CCP's blacklist, and may never be able to return to China.
The underground church refers to groups relative to the "official" Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association or the Protestant "Three-Self Church."
The report points out that in China, many believers and clergy still remain loyal to the Vatican and are unwilling to accept CCP supervision. At the same time, the Chinese authorities are intensifying their suppression and control, urging priests to handle civil registration equivalent to moving from hidden to open, requiring them to sign documents promising to abide by the principles of independence, autonomy, and self-management of the Chinese church, as well as the leadership of the CCP.
For many, deciding whether to sign this document is an extremely painful choice.
In 2018, during the papacy of Pope Francis, the Vatican and China signed a provisional agreement, the detailed content of which has not yet been published. This agreement was extended for another four years in 2024. Although it does not explicitly stipulate that believers must join patriotic organizations, it provides the Chinese authorities with a powerful tool to "normalize" clergy, while potentially harming the loyalty of believers and stifling the underground church network.
The organization "Aid to the Church in Need," which supports persecuted believers, reported that the CCP has long meticulously spread rumors, leading people to mistakenly believe that civil registration is one of the requirements of the agreement. A Chinese priest currently in France, who is unwelcome by the CCP, said: "Some underground church priests succumbed because of this."
He mentioned a 64-year-old clergyman who retired from military service and was imprisoned in a dark room for several months. He did not yield due to the harsh environment, but eventually, the Vatican-China agreement made him sign.
The report states that in the face of such suppression, the Vatican once sought compromise. In June 2019, the Vatican issued pastoral guidelines on the civil registration of Chinese clergy, stating that the "conscience" of clergy should be respected. If the declarations required by the documents do not respect the Catholic faith, clergy can state, verbally or in writing, that they are signing the documents without renouncing their loyalty to doctrine.
A French priest closely connected with the underground church believes that the Vatican's meaning was: "Catholics can sign the document, and if they are dissatisfied with some of the wording, they can express it when signing. If they don't express it and sign, it's also fine; if they really don't want to sign, God bless, we respect your choice. I thought at the time, this means it's okay to sign. Many underground clergy later signed because they had no other choice, they were operating outside the law, and the (Vatican-China) agreement suffocated them to some extent."
A Chinese priest admitted: "This is the government's strategy: make you think that since the Pope seems to agree, there's no need to resist anymore."
Some believe that civil registration is equivalent to capitulating after decades of resistance; others believe that signing the document is the price for "continuing to serve." This tense opposition tears apart the church community, with registered priests being questioned about betraying their faith; underground priests face the risk of their dioceses being suppressed.
A Chinese priest granted asylum in France recalled: "When the faithful learned that a priest who had resisted the CCP his entire life had signed the document, they cried all night, asking: How is this possible? He endured being detained twice, why did he give in?"
In 2025, China intensified its crackdown on unregistered Protestant and Catholic networks. Guillaume Guennec, director of the NGO "Open Doors," which defends persecuted believers, said: "The Chinese proverb says 'kill the chicken to scare the monkey.' Large-scale arrests send a strong signal to all believers, forcing them to join official organizations."
But the situation for official churches is not much better. Since the end of 2023, patriotic religious organizations have published new five-year plans to promote the "Sinicization" of religions, listing goals, annual tasks, and implementation plans; furthermore, according to the "Four Entrances" policy, religious sites must display national flags, constitutions and laws, socialist core values, and traditional Chinese culture.
The report also states that in December 2025, officials confiscated passports and travel permits to Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan from clergy. All overseas trips must be submitted in writing at least one month in advance, detailing itineraries and motives, and a report must be submitted within seven days of returning for control.
The report concludes by mentioning former Bishop Guo Xijin of the Mindong Diocese in China. In 2018, under the framework of the Vatican-China agreement, Pope Francis asked him to relinquish his "underground" bishop status and cede his position to "official" bishop Zhan Silu, who had previously been excommunicated. Guo Xijin was demoted to auxiliary bishop, but his ministry was obstructed by the CCP, and he was expelled from his residence, reportedly sleeping on the streets for a time. He finally resigned in 2020 and is reportedly under house arrest. (Edited by: Tang Sheng-yang) 1150502
Stand with facts, your every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" app to stay updated in real-time.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.