Relations between the Holy See and the PRC have been strained over various issues, especially the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) policy of restricting religious activities and the appointment of Catholic bishops in mainland China.

There have been attempts to improve China-Holy See relations, with an agreement signed in September 2018 between the PRC and the Holy See allowing the pope to appoint and veto bishops approved by the CCP.

[3]: 180  By the terms of the canon law of the Catholic Church, the Chinese bishops and people who actively participate in their ordination would be automatically excommunicated, a result called latae sententiae.

[4]: 33  In turn, apostolic nuncio Antonio Riberi circulated a letter denouncing such proposed reforms, and in March 1951 Fr.

Li Weiguang and a group of 783 priests, nuns, and lay Catholics signed a declaration opposing what they viewed as Vatican interference and Western imperialism.

[4]: 33  Throughout 1950 and 1951, the People's Republic of China put pressure on the Vatican by threatening a breakaway of "independent Catholics", but many priests opposed the movement, and Zhou Enlai sought a middle ground.

[5] A deadly controversy was then manufactured: a priest working at the Holy See internunciature (legation) had thrown out an old 1930s-era mortar in a trash pile out of his home.

A businessman named Antonio Riva discovered the mortar and took a non-functioning piece of it back to his house to display as an antique.

[8] The PRC broke off diplomatic relations with the Holy See in 1951, deporting the apostolic nuncio to British Hong Kong.

[4]: 33  The CCP framed these actions in terms of Chinese Catholics reclaiming their church in the context of broader opposition to Western imperialism.

[3]: 185 On 1 October 2000, Pope John Paul II recognized 120 Chinese Catholics killed during the 19th century and the Boxer Rebellion as martyrs.

[3]: 188 Approximately one year later, John Paul II sent a message to a conference commemorating Matteo Ricci's arrival in Beijing.

[3]: 188  John Paul II wrote that he regretted the behavior of those who "may have given the impression of a lack of respect and esteem for the Chinese people on the part of the Catholic Church".

[15] On 8 April 2011, the Financial Times reported that Baron Von Pfetten organized the first major breakthrough discussion at leadership level during a three days closed door seminar in his French château where a senior Chinese visiting delegation met with Monseigneur Balestrero the Holy See Undersecretary for Relations with States.

[3]: 189 Francis, pope since March 2013, said in a 2015 news media interview that he wished to visit China and improve the China-Holy See relationship.

[20][21] A vigil was held by the Justice and Peace Commission of the Hong Kong Catholic Diocese in response from 12 to 13 February in St Bonaventure Church.

[24] Vatican spokesman Greg Burke described the agreement as "not political but pastoral, allowing the faithful to have bishops who are in communion with Rome but at the same time recognized by Chinese authorities.

On the ethical level, they should be aware that many of their fellow citizens expect from them a greater commitment to the service of the common good and the harmonious growth of society as a whole.

At times, this may also require of them the effort to offer a word of criticism, not out of sterile opposition, but for the sake of building a society that is more just, humane and respectful of the dignity of each person.According to Willy Wo-Lap Lam, the agreement reflects the long-standing desire of the Chinese government to end the Holy See's recognition of the government in Taiwan, even as CCP general secretary Xi Jinping continued the campaign, launched in the spring of 2018, to increase control of foreign religious institutions.