Pope, Bishops, Urge Prayer for China, Following Campaign Launch

On May 23, 2021, Pope Francis added his voice in a growing global movement, started by lay Catholics in March in response to Cardinal Charles Bo’s Call for Prayer for the Church and Peoples of China. Various Cardinals and Bishops, and both the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales have also pledged their prayers for the cause.

Addressing the issue of China and the faithful of that country after the May 23rd recitation of the Regina Coeli prayer, Pope Francis remarked, “Dearest Catholic brothers and sisters in China, I wish to assure you that the universal Church, of which you are an integral part, shares your hopes and supports you in your trials. She accompanies you with prayer for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit, so that the light and beauty of the Gospel might shine in you as the power of God for the salvation of those who believe.”

Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on International Justice and Peace, voiced his support for Cardinal Bo’s appeal, “Recognizing China’s growing global power, Cardinal Bo has expressed his hope that through these prayers, China ‘may become a force for good and a protector of the rights of the most vulnerable and marginalized in the world.’” Similarly, Pope Francis affirmed his prayers for Catholics in China, acknowledging their difficulties, assuring them of his daily prayers, and exhorting them to be good citizens. Francis also appeared to endorse efforts such as the lay-led Global Prayer for China campaign by inviting all the faithful to accompany the Christian faithful in China.

Endorsements and letters of appreciation and participation continue to show support for the Global Call to Prayer, including those from Most Reverend Peter A. Comensoli, Archbishop of Melbourne, Bishop Declan Lang, Bishop of Clifton, and Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, who stated that the issue is, “…a matter close to my heart.”

An international coalition formed in response to Cardinal Bo’s Call for Prayer for the Church and Peoples of China is facilitating the global prayer effort launched the week of May 22-29 and focuses on the persecuted and repressed in China. The campaign is backed by an informal coalition of lay Christians from six continents.

Coalition members include American Congressman Chris Smith, the U.K.’s Lord David Alton, Canadian Parliamentarian Garnett Genuis, Australian Parliamentarian Kevin Andrews, Irish entrepreneur Declan Ganley, Canada’s former religious freedom envoy Andrew Bennett, Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Nina Shea, CSW’s expert Benedict Rogers, Director of the International Catholic Jurists Forum and Ave Maria Law Professor Jane Adolphe, as well as numerous others. The campaign has also been endorsed by Lord Chris Patten, the last Governor of Hong Kong, former U.K. Cabinet Minister, and Vatican advisor. The campaign’s website – www.GlobalPrayerforChina.org– features resources for pastors, parishes, and individuals, including up-to-date information on the repression and persecution of Christians in China and a series of informational videos, including a three-minute video on Cardinal Bo’s call for prayer, created for the campaign. The videos are also available at the International Catholic Jurists Forum’s website: http://icjurist.org/media/.

For further information on the Global Prayer for the Church and Peoples of China, contact https://globalprayerforchina.org/contact/