Pope Leo XIV has called for prayers for Catholics in China to remain united with the Holy See, addressing one of the most delicate diplomatic challenges of his pontificate during his Sunday blessing from the Apostolic Palace.

He said that on 24th May, the Church observed a feast day introduced by Pope Benedict XVI to pray for Chinese Catholics, a community of around twelve million, split between a state-approved church and an underground church loyal to Rome.

“On this feast day, in the churches and shrines in China and throughout the world, prayers have been raised to God as a sign of the solicitude and affection for Chinese Catholics and their communion with the universal Church,” Pope Leo said. He prayed they would “obtain the grace to be strong and joyful witnesses of the Gospel, even in the midst of trials, to always promote peace and harmony”.

The Vatican’s 2018 deal with Beijing - allowing state involvement in bishop appointments while reserving final approval for the Pope - remains controversial. Critics claim it concedes too much to the Chinese government, and recent bishop appointments made without Vatican consent have raised tensions.

Pope Leo will soon decide whether to renew the agreement. Cardinal Stephen Chow of Hong Kong expressed hope the new pontiff would follow Francis’s approach. Chow gave Leo a statue of Our Lady of Sheshan, venerated by Chinese Catholics, and asked him not to forget the Church in China. According to Chow, Pope Leo nodded in quiet agreement.

The Vatican has sought for decades to heal its rift with China, which began when the Communist government severed ties in the 1950s.

The 2018 agreement aimed to bridge divisions and bring unity to Chinese Catholics.