China's Escalating Repression of Underground Catholics Amid Vatican Tensions

• •Chinese authorities are pressuring underground Catholics to join the state-controlled church.
• •The 2018 Holy See-China agreement has been violated, leading to unilateral bishop appointments.
• •Pope Leo XIV is urged to take action against the ongoing repression of Catholics in China.

Chinese authorities are intensifying pressure on underground Catholic communities to align with the state-controlled church, as reported by Human Rights Watch on April 16, 2026. This crackdown is part of President Xi Jinping's ongoing 'Sinicization' campaign, which has increasingly restricted religious freedoms since 2016. The 2018 Holy See-China agreement, intended to regulate bishop appointments, has been violated by China, leading to the unilateral appointment of bishops without Vatican consent. The underground Catholic communities, estimated to number between 6 to 12 million, face arbitrary detentions and other forms of persecution. Pope Leo XIV is urged to review the agreement to address these violations. The Vatican recently acknowledged the appointment of Bishop Shen Bin in Shanghai, which occurred without its prior knowledge, highlighting ongoing tensions. The situation reflects a broader crackdown on religious freedoms in China, particularly affecting those who refuse to pledge allegiance to the Communist Party.