Stability is the foundation for progress in the world of diplomacy. Newly elected Pope Leo XIV has raised hopes for the constructive development of Beijing-Vatican ties, after he affirmed the importance of maintaining communication with the mainland Chinese authorities and pledged to follow the direction set by the late Pope Francis. Even though a substantive breakthrough in ties might take time, hopefully the continuity can strengthen mutual respect and goodwill.
The Holy See’s commitment was revealed by the Hong Kong diocese after a meeting between Cardinal Stephen Chow Sau-yan and the new Pope at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican this month. They held an “in-depth exchange on the situation of the church in China” on their first meeting since the pope’s election in May.

The American pontiff “intends to continue the direction set by Pope Francis in dealing with China,” Chow told the weekly Catholic newspaper Sunday Examiner. “He recognises the importance of dialogue between the church and the mainland authorities and considers respectful communication a priority in addressing challenges in China-Vatican relations.”

It would have been surprising, even unwise, should the new pope deviate from the current understanding, an outcome achieved by his predecessor after many years of behind-the-scenes negotiation and compromise. The pontiff, Chow said, was not entirely unaware of the church in China as he had already gathered insights from “multiple sources” and through the Sino-Vatican agreement.

It is good that the local church leader also shared his insights to help the pontiff gain a fuller picture and a better understanding of the current state of Beijing-Vatican relations. A few months before his appointment as cardinal in 2023, Chow, then a bishop, paid a five-day visit to Beijing at the invitation of Bishop Joseph Li Shan of the Beijing diocese. It was the first time a senior Hong Kong Catholic clergyman had visited the capital since reunification. The local Catholic church has traditionally played a role in bridging the Vatican and the mainland, and it should continue to contribute in this way.

The Vatican’s relations with Beijing are arguably among the most sensitive and contentious in Chinese foreign relations. Even though Leo XIV took over amid reduced tensions following an agreement in 2018 to regulate the appointment of bishops on the mainland through a joint process, the Taiwan issue remains the biggest obstacle to the establishment of formal diplomatic ties.