Third Annual Week of Global Prayer for Church and People of China May 21-28, 2023

Sunday, May 21, 2023, marks the beginning of the third annual Week of Global Prayer for China. The Week of Global Prayer is a time for prayer for the Church and people in China. We are an informal network of Catholic legislators from around the world, who have taken up this prayer campaign and are encouraging all persons, churches, religious communities, and groups of good will to take it up as well.

We are alarmed and aggrieved by the oppression and persecution of China’s Christians and other religious minorities, some of whom are even suffering genocide. We pray for the government of China to govern with respect for universal and immutable human dignity and freedom of conscience and religion.

The Global Week of Prayer was initiated in 2021 in response to the call of President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) Cardinal Charles Bo for prayer for the people and Church in China. Following the arrest of Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen, Cardinal Bo has renewed and strengthened his call, writing “I urge Christians of all traditions everywhere to pray for Hong Kong especially, and the Church in China, as well as the Uyghurs, Tibetans and others facing persecution in China, during that Week of prayer.” Pope Francis has also called for prayer for China during this time.

In addition to the prayers of the faithful, we call upon all concerned people to be informed about the plight experienced by many in China under repressive and unjust laws and policies. We call upon legislators and members of international organizations to take up the issue of religious persecution in China, and to work collaboratively to promote human dignity, freedom, and peace in China during this time.

Please visit www.globalprayerforchina.org for more information on all aspects of the prayer campaign and the situation in China.